Maya Angelou is dead

Maya Angelou, the renowned American poet, author and civil rights activist, has died.

Confirmation of her passing came from her agent and officials in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Angelou, author of the celebrated autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" was 86 years old.

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri, under the name Marguerite Annie Johnson. She grew up to become a singer, dancer, actress, writer and Hollywood's first female black director.

She was a three-time Grammy winner and was nominated for a Pulitzer, a Tony, an an Emmy for her role in the groundbreaking television mini-series "Roots."

She had a very difficult childhood, suffering sexual abuse, which she wrote about in "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

Maya Angelou was rapturously received when she visited Jamaica in May 1993.