Maya Angelou
Obama Presidential Center Honoree
Space Name: Maya Angelou West Dining Terrace | Tafari’s Kitchen | Forum | Level 1
Maya Angelou was a poet, memoirist, and civil rights advocate whose words helped Americans confront injustice and imagine a more generous future. Her landmark memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings gave voice to Black Americans’ pain—and resilience. Angelou worked alongside leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and later became a powerful public voice for dignity, courage, and compassion, reminding audiences that our stories can build understanding and change.
With gratitude to Paz de Corazon Foundation, Tejemos Foundation, and H. J. Dobson and M. Hosoe
Legacy on Campus
Tafari’s Kitchen
Tafari’s Kitchen is a culinary experience honoring the legacy of former White House Chef, Tafari Campbell and the local food traditions of Chicago. Curated by Chef Cliff Rome, Tafari’s Kitchen is a one-of-a-kind restaurant that celebrates the connections we make through food.
Obama Presidential Center, Chicago Public Library Branch
Explore our collection of physical books, e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and newspapers, all available for you to read, borrow, and enjoy. Enter into the Library and find classic works by literary figures such as James Baldwin and Maya Angelou.
Meet More Honorees
Through the honoree naming initiative at the Obama Presidential Center, we are partnering with our donors to celebrate a part of the history in which the Obama story is so deeply rooted by associating a named space with a hero, moment, or person "on whose shoulders we stand"—an honoree who made the Obamas’ story possible.
Meet More Honorees