“I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.”
— Maya Angelou, Phenomenal Woman
Best known for her work as an author and poet, Maya Angelou is an acclaimed writer and performer. She’s also widely known for her work as a civil rights activist and being a member of the Harlem Writers Guild. Her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, made history as the first nonfiction bestseller by an African-American woman in 1969. You may also recognize her from her famous poems like “Phenomenal Woman”, “On the Pulse of Morning”, and “Still I Rise”. Her accolades include winning a Grammy Award for “On the Pulse of Morning”, as well as being nominated for numerous Tony and Emmy awards for her work as a singer and actor. Angelou also became the first Black woman to produce a screenplay with Georgia, Georgia. She left an incredible legacy following her passing in 2014 and will be remembered as one of the greatest poets, as well as a pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement.
