Today is the eightieth birthday of Maya Angelou. It is also the fortieth anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King. Ms. Angelou and Dr. King were close friends, and for years she refused to celebrate her birthday.

After a turbulent and traumatic childhood, Ms Angelou went on to develop an extraordinary career as a poet, singer, memoirist, actress and civil rights leader. Her most well-known work, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was nominated for a National Book Award. She was the first poet since Robert Frost to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration: “On the Pulse of Morning” at the first Clinton inauguration. Despite the critical acclaim she received, she tried to remain close to ordinary women, becoming Oprah Winfrey’s mentor and even appearing on her show several times.

The assassination of Dr. King is especially being covered this year on cable channels. CNN had a special documentary about it last night, and the History Channel is also having a special Sunday night.