Maya Angelou, the famed author, poet, and activist, was found dead in her Winston-Salem home, at the age of 86. Through her magnificent career as a poet and penning her now classic autobiography, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, she was able to touch thousands of disenfranchised and downtrodden individuals around the globe; eventually making her one of the world’s most important important thinkers and speakers. From reciting poetry at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration, to standing on the front lines during the Civil Rights Movement, ultimately to settle down and teach at Wake Forest University, her life has taken her many places and has touched many people.

This news comes on the heels of her cancelled appearance at the Major League Baseball Beacon Awards, where she was scheduled to get honored. During her lifetime, she has received a number of honors and praise has been showered on her from seemingly every direction; however, these weren’t easy gotten gains. After surviving a childhood filled with sexual abuse, her formative years were spent doing odd jobs including prostitution, cooking, and dancing in night clubs. She eventually broke when Angelou was discovered for her singing talent; eventually she was publish I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and gain international acclaim.

Maya Angelou’s powerful legacy will live on forever and she will be sorely missed. There hasn’t been an autopsy nor has the family disclosed what aliment plagued her for the past few months, but we will continue to cover this story as we find out more. We will keep her family and friends in our prayers.

Jimi (@Nativejimi)