Maya Angelou would have been 87 years old day, and to commemorate her birthday we celebrate everything the author, activist and creative force accomplished in her nearly one century on earth.
Though best known for her 1969 memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which became the first non-fiction bestseller by a Black woman, Angelou's talents and achievements run deep. She is a Grammy winner (for Best Spoken Word Album in 1994), a filmmaker (Down in the Delta, her directorial debut at the age of 70), was appointed an American Ambassador by the NAACP and President Barack Obama presented her with the 2010 Presidential Medal of Freedom.
A LOOK AT MAYA ANGELOU'S LIFE IN PICTURES
Now, the cherished poet, who passed away last May at the age of 86, will be honored by Oprah Winfrey with her own Postal Forever Stamp. In honor of Dr. Maya Angelou’s life, we remember some of her most impactful words: "Nothing can dim the light which shines from within."
Happy birthday, Dr. Angelou.
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(Photo: Steve Exum/Getty Images)