Maya Angelou, the legendary poet whose book I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an American classic, has died at 86.

Angelou was a major civild right figure and cultural touchstone. In later years, she was a prominent associate and idol of Oprah Winfrey's.

And who can forget her appearance at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, at which she recited her poem “On the Pulse of Morning”:

Angelou, who has been frail at recent public appearances, received the Literarian Award from Toni Morrison last year: