(Marguerita Johnson Angelos) (born 1928), African American poet, playwright, performer, composer, and author of candid autobiographical works, born in St. Louis, Mo.; encouraged to write by James Baldwin and other professionals who heard her stories of rough rural life with her storekeeper-grandmother in segregated Arkansas; administrator, University of Ghana's School of Music and Drama, 1963–66; popular autobiographies, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' (1970), chronicle of life up to age 16 and birth of son, and ‘Gather Together in My Name' (1974), ‘Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas' (1976); ‘All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes' (1986) describes her African sojourn; ‘I Shall Not Be Moved' (1990).