For years, a young Maya Angelou lost the will to speak. One day, she was given a book of poems in which she once again found her voice. Fast forward, in 1993, she took the stage at the Presidential Inauguration and recited her own poetry, finishing with the lines: “The Rock cries out to us today, You may stand upon me, But do not hide your face.” Be brave, she was saying. How did she get there?

CK Curriculum Alignment: Grade 4 and Grade 6 Sequence English Language Arts

Voices in History™ is a Core Knowledge Biography Series that encourages young readers to learn about real superheroes in history. As a result of acts of extraordinary bravery, ingenuity, strength, and determination, these people made a difference and changed the world. Perhaps their remarkable stories will inspire young readers to become the superheroes of the future.