Maya Angelou dies at 86

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/05/mayaangelou.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:4:"file";s:23:"2014/05/mayaangelou.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"mayaangelou-336x224.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:224;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"mayaangelou-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:21:"mayaangelou-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"mayaangelou-467x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:467;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"mayaangelou-398x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:398;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:23:"mayaangelou-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:370908;s:14:"optimized_size";i:206049;s:7:"percent";d:44.450000000000003;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:51:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:199190;s:14:"optimized_size";i:76252;s:7:"percent";d:61.719999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:4163;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4091;s:7:"percent";d:1.73;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:56517;s:14:"optimized_size";i:42531;s:7:"percent";d:24.75;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:31963;s:14:"optimized_size";i:23922;s:7:"percent";d:25.16;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou-467x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:44175;s:14:"optimized_size";i:33177;s:7:"percent";d:24.899999999999999;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:59:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/05/mayaangelou-398x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34900;s:14:"optimized_size";i:26076;s:7:"percent";d:25.280000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1637595743 
1401235200

Poet and activist Maya Angelou, best known for her memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, has died after a long illness at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was 86.

Angelou grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and Stamps, Arkansas. She had a varied career as a dancer, singer, teacher, actor, producer and a political activist. But she’s probably best known as the author of 30 books of prose and poetry. Angelou writes about her life with brutal honesty, an honesty that reflects the courage of someone determined to rise above her meager beginnings.

In 2009 Angelou spoke in Birmingham at an event for the UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center. In an interview with Greg Bass for WBHM she reflected on her humble roots.

Click here to listen to an extended interview

 

Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker’s killing

Carey Dale Grayson was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother’s home in Louisiana.

You can sword-fight at this club. But no politics allowed

At the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters club, members are asked to leave their politics at the door, a rule that has led to closer relationships and more learning from one another.

How will China impact the future of climate change? You might be surprised

As a new Trump administration signals a retreat on climate action, China is stepping up. China is the biggest producer of climate technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.

More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are recalled for possibly having E. coli

The Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted federal authorities about several illnesses in the past week.

President-elect set to shape ‘Trump judiciary’ for next generation

Legal experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will move quickly next year to cement and extend his legacy in appointing federal judges.

In this election, demographics did not determine how people voted

Groups that Democrats believed would always turn out in their favor did not do so this year. Here's how the vote shook out in the seven swing states.

More Arts and Culture Coverage