Culture Thursday: The Great Maya Angelou

Continuing yesterday's celebration of Women's History Month, let us dive into the written word. 

Maya Angelou was one of our country's most cherished authors. That alone would place her on the pantheon of all-time greats. But not only was she a vaunted wordsmith, she also was a civil rights activist who stood in solidarity with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X among others. She was a true triple-threat, having earned both Tony and Emmy nominations early in her career. That, along with the fact that she became the first Black woman to have a screenplay produced and it's clear that Maya Angelou was an American treasure for all of us to behold. She was a force of nature and is unquestionably a person who needs to be celebrated not just in March but in each and every textbook that recounts phenomenal trailblazing women. In honor of Maya's life and career, we share with you all some of her most well-known works and inspirational speeches in the videos below.

In dark times like these, let people like Maya Angelou guide us in the right direction. This is your Culture Thursday open thread.