Dr. Maya Angelou was a renowned American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She had an illustrious career as an educator, historian, best-selling author, actress, playwright, producer and director. Angelou wrote seven autobiographical novels and several books of essays, and was active in the Civil Rights movement, working with Martin Luther King Jr. She became the first African American woman to have a play performed on Broadway and the first African American woman to write and present a television special.