Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise begins with a short clip of the late poet and civil rights activist singing before an audience. She bellows: “I open my mouth to the lord, and I won’t turn back, no. I will go, I shall go to see what the end is gonna be.” As she sings, her eyes dart around the room, as if she’s privy to a secret no one else knows. This defiant sense of self is not only obvious in Angelou’s work, but also throughout this new two-hour special from American Masters, premiering Tuesday, February 21 at 8 p.m. on CPTV. Using rare archival footage and intimate interviews with Angelou before her death in 2014, And Still I Rise takes viewers on an incredible journey through the life of a true American icon. From her upbringing in the Depression-era south to her work with Malcolm X in Ghana, Dr. Maya Angelou published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received more than 50 honorary degrees and dozens of awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. And yet, And Still I Rise paints a greater picture of Angelou’s remarkable life, as the film also examines how these extraordinary achievements inspired generations. In fact, one of the most striking realizations throughout the film is just how many of today’s most important voices were moved and influenced by her. Peppered throughout are interviews with famous faces, including President Bill Clinton, Hilary Clinton, Common, and Alfre Woodard; all of whom comment on Angelou’s impact. When asked about her experience reading Angelou’s celebrated autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Oprah Winfrey explains, “I read those words and thought, ‘Somebody knows who I am.’” In And Still I Rise, co-directors Bob Hercules and Rita Coburn Whack thoughtfully examine how the events of history, culture, and the arts shaped Maya Angelou’s life, and in turn, how she helped shape the worldview of others. In February, audiences will discover how true this is. Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise on American Masters premieres Tuesday, February 21 at 8 p.m. on CPTV. MAYA ANGELOU 1928-2014