Maya AngelouUnderstanding the Life and Teachings of A True American Author, Poet, and Civil Rights LeaderBy Dr. Ruth CarrWhen we think of poetry and writing, a few names come to mind. Shakespeare, of course. Robert Frost, certainly. Emily Dickinson without a doubt. Oh, and let's not forget Edgar Allen Poe. However, it is impossible to think of this pantheon of talent without bringing up the name Maya Angelou.Come on, we have all heard her name. If you have ever taken a writing or English class in your life, Maya Angelou's work has floated around your classroom and from the mouths of your teachers and professors. Indisputably, her writings have changed the literary world forever—and for the better.