Maya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. Angelou had a broad career as a singer, dancer, actress, composer, and Hollywood’s first female black director, but became most famous as a writer, editor, essayist, playwright, and poet. As a civil rights activist, Angelou worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, and was awarded over 5- honorary degrees before her death, including the Medal of Freedom.