LE PORTRAIT MAGAZINE 85 pages | Page 77

77 LITERARY NEWS Maya Angelou Maya Angelou, born April 4, 1928 as Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, was raised in segregated rural Arkansas. She is a poet, historian, author, actress, playwright, civil-rights activist, producer and director. She lectures throughout the US and abroad and is Reynolds professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina since 1981. She has published ten best selling books and numerous magazine articles earning her Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award nominations. At the request of President Clinton, she wrote and delivered a poem at his 1993 presidential inauguration. The legendary activist and author passed away in Winston-Salem North Carolina while recovering from a mystery illness. LE PORTRAIT MAGAZINE Page 77