Throughout her life, she published seven autobiographies as well as several books of poetry.
Maya Angelou was born in January of 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. Her full birth name was Marguerite Anne Johnson but she came to use, “Maya” because of her little brother, Bailey Jr. It is a slurred combination of “my-a” and “sister.” Throughout her life, she published seven autobiographies as well as several books of poetry. Her essays were compiled in three books and she is credited in many plays and television shows throughout her long career.