Maya Angelou was a great writter and poet. She has written alot about African American women. She not only writes, but at one time she was a nightclub entertainer and a waitress. Maya has written alot of autobiographical books such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings , Gather in my Name , Heart of a Women , and All God's Children Need Walking Shoes . Her poetry books include Oh Pray My Wings are Going to Fit Me Well , And I Still Rise , Shaker, Why Don't You Sing? , Now Sheba Sings the Song , I Shall Not Be Moved , and Phenomenal Women . When she was 16 and in her graduating year at Lafayette County Training School in 1940, she gave birth to her only son, Guy. Among other things, Maya was a playwright, civil rights activist, magazine editor, singer, dancer, and actress.