Famous American poet, writer and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou, is the first black woman to appear on a U.S 25c coin. The coin started circulating on January 10.
Janet Yellen, the first female secretary of the US Treasury Department, responded to this story by saying that when changing the design of a currency, one is always given the opportunity to say something important about one’s country – how it develops and what its values are as a society.
The 25-cent coin also features images of other American women who have left an indelible mark on history.
Angelou’s first novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was widely acclaimed, describing her childhood and how writing and literature helped her deal with racism as well as life traumas. This work has also been on the list of banned books.
Maya Angelou, who is an author to 36 books, spent her life fighting for civil rights and supporting the LGBTQ+ community. She has received over 30 honorary awards, even receiving the Barack Obama presidential medal. She also supported marriage equality.
Maya Angelou passed away in 2014, at the age of 86.
