The African American author, poet, and actress was born in St Louis, MO on April 4, 1928.

Wisdom is one of the best human defining characteristics, and Maya Angelou its greatest living example and chronicler. Having written over 15 books and countless poems AngelouÕs themes are always about people in their most fragile, raw, and sometimes inhumane states. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an autobiographical look into MayaÕs life as she recounts her troubled childhood in Stamps, Arkansas and the tight bond she has with both her immediate family and her family in her community.