American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist Maya Angelou died today. She’ll be remembered not only for the strength and conviction of her words, but also for the inspiration and wisdom she offered. Her work had particular resonance for women and the poem that may best represent that connection is “Phenomenal Woman,” which Oprah has called “life defining.” Published in a collection of the same name in 1995, the poem originally appeared in Cosmopolitan magazine in 1978. Hear Dr. Angelou recite this landmark poem and see rare photos of her life as a young woman and later as a lauded poet.
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Alison Roman Won't Sugarcoat It
- If Donald Trump Is Indicted, Here's What Would Happen Next in the Process
- The World's Greatest Places of 2023
- Exclusive: Effective Altruist Leaders Were Repeatedly Warned About Sam Bankman-Fried Years Before FTX Collapsed
- Who Should Be on the 2023 TIME100? Vote Now
- Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's Surprising Second Act
- Gaslighting, Narcissist, and More Psychology Terms You're Misusing
- In This Texas County, There's No Such Thing as Moving on From COVID-19
- In Defense of Nora Ephron's Unfairly Panned Heartburn Movie
- Want Today's Top Headlines in Your Inbox? Sign Up for The Brief
