Maya Angelou was an American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of awards and honorary degrees. Some of her notable works include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Phenomenal Woman, and Still I Rise. These works used poetic devices to empower and give a voice to African American women's experiences with racism and discrimination.