Legendary Poet Maya Angelou Becomes The First Black Woman To Appear On A U.S Quarter

Legendary poet and activist Maya Angelou became the first Black woman ever to appear on the quarter when it went into circulation on Tuesday. She was the first honoree featured as part of the US Mint’s American Women Quarters Program, which runs until 2025. “Each time we redesign our currency, we have the chance to say something about our country — what we value, and how we’ve progressed as a society,” Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen said in a statement.