What is in the News?
Maya Angelou is the first black woman to be featured on a United States coin. The coin was released as part of the American Women Quarters Program by the US Mint.
Maya Angelou’s Biography
At the age of seven, Maya was raped by her mother’s lover. Her relatives thrashed the latter to death. Following the catastrophe, Maya became deafeningly quiet. She began writing during her quiet. Her beautiful prose and speaking voice have made her famous. She is a black woman from the United States. In 2014, she died at the age of 86.
Literature Works
She has written seven autobiographies, several poetry collections, and three collections of essays. Her autobiographies helped her gain notoriety. Her debut autobiography, “I Know the Caged Bird Sings,” received widespread acclaim.
The Coin’s Background
Maya is depicted on one side of the coin, while George Washington, the first president of the United States, is depicted on the other. Maya is seen on the currency alongside an eagle. Maya has won several awards. She has been awarded almost 30 honorary degrees. She read “On the Pulse of Morning” at President Clinton’s inauguration in 1992. The Presidential Medal of Freedom was bestowed by President Barack Obama in 2010. She was awarded the Literarian Award in 2013.
Women’s Quarters in the United States of Americ
The programme was started with the intention of minting twenty coins. The coins will be used to commemorate historical contributions. Civil rights, women’s suffrage, abolition, humanities, government, science, and the arts are all included. Wilma Mankiller and Sally Ride also appear in the show, in addition to Maya. Sally Ride was the first woman in space. Wilma was the Cherokee Nation’s first main leader. Cherokee is the United States’ largest tribe.
Mint of the United States of America
The US Mint is a federal agency that creates coinage for the United States. These coins are used in the country to conduct trade and commerce. It does not create paper currency. It was founded in the year 1792. There are four mints in the United States. Denver, Philadelphia, West Point, and San Francisco are the cities.
