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Maya Angelou to become the first Black woman to appear on U.S. quarter

The legendary poet, writer, director, professor, and activist Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to be featured on U.S. quarters as they go into circulation today.
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Maya Angelou has become the first Black woman to appear on the US quarter.
According to the US Mint, the coin featuring the activist and poet went into circulation today.
This coin is the first in the American Women’s Quarter Program with other quarters coming out later this year until 2025.
The new coin will still feature George Washington on the “heads” side. Angelou and the other women in the program will be featured on the “tails” side.
The legendary poet, writer, director, professor, and activist Maya Angelou becomes the first Black woman to be featured on U.S. quarters as they go into circulation today. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said, “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.”
Author Margaret Peterson Haddix said, “When I was a college freshman, my university brought Maya Angelou to speak on campus. Sitting in the audience, I was gobsmacked by every word she spoke. Then, in the lobby, I got to pass within about three feet of her. I was much, much, much too shy to say anything about how much I admired her and her writing. But I had such a sense of being in the presence of greatness. That is one of my favorite memories of that year.
All that is to say that I am delighted she is being honored on these quarters now!”
American writer  Elise Ballard expressed her excitement too, “THIS. IS. SO. EXCITING!! Maya Angelou will start appearing on our U.S. quarters this month! What a beautiful way to kick off this year! I can’t believe I had the opportunity to interview such an icon and master and was able to capture her incredible words of wisdom about epiphanies in my book. I hope to release the audio recording of her interview very soon so you all can experience her sharing her story and advice in that way too. It’s so powerful.
When we see and use this quarter, we can all be reminded of her many quotes, work, and wisdom, and the Light she brought to this world–I’ll always think of this and be reminded I am loved and no matter how dire things may seem sometimes, there’s nothing GOOD that I, we, humanity, can’t do
“We are loved by Love Itself, there is nothing good that we can’t do.” ~Maya Angelou, Epiphany”. She said.
Angelou and her work are certainly responsible for a great amount of that progress Yellen references.
So check your quarters, and see if any of them feature this Phenomenal Woman.
(Pictured here receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2010).

The AWQ Program will feature coins designed to recognize trailblazing women from 2022 through 2025, with five quarters issued per year.

The first coin depicts Angelou on its reverse side with her arms uplifted. Behind her are a bird in flight and the rising sun, as inspired by her work and life. She is the first Black woman to appear on a U.S. quarter, according to Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), who sponsored the bill for the program.

Angelou rose to prominence with the publication of her autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” She published over 30 bestselling titles during her lifetime.

In 1992 at President Clinton’s inauguration, she became the first African American woman to write and present a poem at a presidential inauguration. She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010.

What they’re saying: “As a leader in the civil rights movement, poet laureate, college professor, Broadway actress, dancer, and the first female African American cable car conductor in San Francisco, Maya Angelou’s brilliance and artistry inspired generations of Americans,” Lee said in a statement.

“I am proud to have led this effort to honor these phenomenal women, who more often than not are overlooked in our country’s telling of history,” she added.

“If you find yourself holding a Maya Angelou quarter, may you be reminded of her words, ‘be certain that you do not die without having done something wonderful for humanity.'”

Interested parties should consult with local banks on the availability of Angelou quarters in late January and early February.

editor
Abel Mavura is a journalist, editor, and writer whose work explores the intersections of cities, migration, and social justice. He tells stories about how people move, survive, and remake urban life under conditions of precarity, drawing on close field engagement and lived experience. Trained as a journalist at the Christian College of Southern Africa, Abel’s early work was rooted in media practice and community storytelling. Over time, his focus expanded into research and critical inquiry, allowing his writing to move fluidly between reportage, analysis, and long-form reflection. He is a graduate of Sciences Po Paris and is currently pursuing research at the University of Cambridge, where his work builds on earlier research into migration and informal housing. Abel is the author of three books, and his writing has appeared across platforms ranging from grassroots and community radio to international and policy-facing spaces. His work is grounded in clarity, ethical storytelling, and a commitment to centring voices often left out of mainstream narratives.

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