Welcome to American National Biography Online
The life of a nation is told by the lives of its people
- Over 19,000 biographies of significant, influential or notorious figures from American history written by prominent scholars
- Life of the day now available as an email to your inbox or by RSS feed
- Have questions about how to use the redesigned website? Check out our Help page for a video demo and detailed instructions or read through our FAQs.
What's new
Black History Month 2019
During the month of February we will be celebrating Black History Month. From Jesse Owens to Harriet Tubman to Martin Luther King, Jr., discover a selection of men and women who have contributed to world history. Subscribe by RSS feed for updates.
Featured
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was one of the most notable writers of the twentieth century. Through her memoirs, such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), she offered dramatic insight not only into her own life but also into African American culture. Her work found an audience among black and white readers. Angelou was also a celebrated poet. Her collection Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1971, and she read her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993. She was also a civil rights activist who worked with both Martin Luther King and Malcolm X during the 1960s. Her body of work offered a strong rebuke to the nation’s long history of racism and inspired countless African American writers to follow in her footsteps.
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