Maya Angelou
The prolific orator, poet, author and civil rights activist has left a mark in American society that will be felt for many more years to come.
Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, she gave birth to her only child, Clyde when she was 17. Clyde later changed his name to Guy.
In an interview conducted in 1995, Angelou iterated, “I wrote about my experiences because I thought too many people tell young folks, ‘I never did anything wrong. Who, Moi? – never I. I have no skeletons in my closet. In fact, I have no closet.”