15 Famous Black People Who Passed Away in 2014

maya angelou

Maya Angelou

The world renowned author and poet died on May 28 at her home in Winston-Salem, N.C. The 86-year-old had been a professor of American studies at Wake Forest University since 1982. Her 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” made literary history as the first nonfiction best-seller by an African-American woman.

Henry Jackson (center)

Henry Jackson (center)

Henry ‘Big Bank Hank’ Jackson

One of the founders of the Sugarhill Gang, Jackson died at the age of 57 on Nov. 11  from kidney complications resulting from cancer.

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