Maya Angelou records her poem “A Brave and Startling Truth” at UNHQ in 2011. (UN Photo)

May 28, 2014 – Maya Angelou, who passed away on Wednesday aged 86, will be remembered for her poetic voice, commitment to civil rights and her activism, which once included taking over the balcony of the UN General Assembly.

The story, as told in the biography, “Maya Angelou,” by Vicki Cox and Miles Shapiro:

Angelou was to return to the UN later in her life, most recently in 2011 where she recorded her poem “A Brave and Startling Truth” for inclusion in an exhibit titled, “The African Continuum: Celebrating Diversity, Recognizing Contributions of People of African Descent.”

– Denis Fitzgerald
On Twitter @denisfitz