Maya Angelou (1928–2014) was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She read her poem On the Pulse of Morning at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993, becoming the first Black woman to deliver an inaugural poem. Her poetry collections include Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie (Random House, 1971) and I Shall Not Be Moved (Random House, 1990). Her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Random House, 1969) is widely taught in American schools. She held a lifetime appointment as Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.
