Maya Angelou wrote the memoir 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'. Angelou was a writer, poet, and civil rights activist whose work focused on self-discovery, strong women, and the African-American experience. Her memoir, published in 1969, tells the story of her childhood and adolescence in the rural South, and the obstacles she overcame to become a writer and activist. The book remains a classic of African-American literature and has been widely praised for its honesty and insight. Maya Angelou published several other memoirs, as well as poetry collections, essays, and novels, during her long and influential career.