However, she isn’t the first famous poet to be awarded the title.

Per thePoetry Foundation, Angelou had a full career before establishing herself as an author in the 1970s.

However, it eventually made its way into the college literary canon.

Maya Angelou posing for photo

Similar to Amanda Gorman, Angelou was the poet for President Bill Clinton’s 1993 inauguration.

Maya Angelou smiling

Portrait of Maya Angelou