Maya Angelou, Lyrical Witness of the Jim Crow South, Dies at 86
By MARGALIT FOX
MAY 28, 2014
Maya Angelou, the memoirist and poet whose landmark book of 1969, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — which describes in lyrical, unsparing prose the author’s girlhood in the Jim Crow South — was among the first autobiographies by a 20th-century black woman to reach a wide general readership, died on Wednesday in her home. She was 86 and lived in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Her death was confirmed by her longtime literary agent, Helen Brann. No immediate cause of death had been determined, but Ms. Brann said Ms. Angelou had been in frail health for some time and had had heart problems.
As well known as she was for her memoirs, which eventually filled six volumes, Ms. Angelou (pronounced AHN-zhe-lo) very likely received her widest exposure on a chilly January day in 1993, when she delivered the inaugural poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at the swearing-in of Bill Clinton, the nation’s 42nd president, who, like Ms. Angelou, had grown up poor in rural Arkansas.
She has received over 50 honorary degrees and was Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University.
Angelou is famous for saying, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Bar sketch, with Pryor as an alcoholic named ‘Willie’, and featuring John Belushi as the bartender. Willie arrives at home, where his wife (Maya Angelou) expresses her feelings on her husband’s behavior, as he’s passed out on the sofa
Maya Angelou and Malcolm X
13 of Maya Angelou’s best quotes
American author and poet Maya Angelou has died, according to media reports.
She was known for her prolific words. USA TODAY Network lists 13 of her best quotes.
1. “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
2. “I am a Woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal Woman,
that’s me.”
3. “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
4. “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”
5. “My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
6. “My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.”
7. “Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
8. “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”
9. “We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.”
10. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot – it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.”
11. “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.”
12. “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.”
13. “Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.”
Maya Angelou and Coretta Scott King
Maya Angelou and James Baldwin
Maya Angelou and Betty Shabazz
Maya Angelou at Oprah’s Legends Ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=g8C7nkG13b8
Published on May 28, 2014
The ladies of Moguldom did a special tribe to Maya Angelou. R.I.P. Dr. Maya Angelou. You will be truly missed!
https://twitter.com/nycjim/status/471748743503413248/photo/1
http://youtu.be/byvtVkm3ABE
https://twitter.com/TheObamaDiary/status/471803831148638208/photo/1
I feel a deep gratitude along with others that we were blessed by Maya Angelou’s presence among us. She touched hearts and souls.
I am sure her heavenly arrival will be received with much rejoicing.
Ms. Angelou, you have been for me a living example of how one’s heart and spirit can NEVER be caged.
God bless you through all eternity.
I can see your joyful heart in this photo.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BouhTRdCQAASqMs.jpg
Makes me think of these lines from a hymn:
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody with Heaven’s harmony;
In my heart there rings a melody,
There rings a melody of love.
A thought-message is touching me right now:
“It is more EXPANSIVE than ever imagined.”
AMEN!
STRIKING!
Reblogged this on Big Blue Dot Y'all.
Martine PowersVerified account@martinepowers·
Wow: Before she rose to prominence, Maya Angelou was San Francisco’s first black female streetcar conductor: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/dr-gridlock/wp/2014/05/28/transportation-leaders-remember-maya-angelou/?wprss=rss_traffic&clsrd …
and she was sixteen at the time
Have your Kleenex ready..
Maya Angelou on Barack Obama’s Election: We All Rise.
“Common sense is so UNCOMMON.” I know that’s right, Maya~
” The Powerful Lesson Maya Angelou Taught Oprah”
At timestamp 1:54 you can watch Maya Angelo singing calypso:
Thanks for the video, Yahtc. Fabulous!
5 Things About Maya Angelou That Most People Won’t Talk About
By Carimah Townes
May 28, 2014 at 11:49 am
Updated: May 28, 2014 at 12:15 pm
Here are five facts you should know about Maya Angelou, the freedom fighter.
1. Angelou was a close associate with Malcolm X prior to his assassination and had plans to start a new effort with him to advance African-American rights. According to Angelou, she intended to jump-start the Organization of African-American Unity with Malcolm X. The two intended to vocalize the issues plaguing black people in the U.S. to the United Nations, with the hope that the international body would assist in their struggle.
2. Angelou was a leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). SCLC, an organization founded by Martin Luther King which preached nonviolence, was instrumental in arranging protests and voter registration drives. Before becoming a member, she arranged the Cabaret for Freedom, a five-week show that raised money for the organization. After the play’s success, she was asked by Bayard Rustin to become the Northern Coordinator of the SCLC, and was instrumental in fundraising and promoting the organization’s mission.
3. Angelou supported Cuban leader Fidel Castro, despite his rivalry with U.S. leaders. She once wrote, “Of course, Castro never had called himself white, so he was O.K. from the git. Anyhow, America hated Russians, and as black people often said, ‘Wasn’t no Communist country that put my grandpappa in slavery. Wasn’t no Communist lynched my poppa or raped my mamma.’” Her commentary aligned with Pan-Africanism and anti-colonial sentiments, according to which people of color — particularly those in the African Diaspora — identified their struggles as part of one larger, systemic fight.
http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2014/05/28/3442108/maya-angelou-civil-rights/
Yes, and your photos clearly shows with whom Angelou aligned herself.
http://youtu.be/PqQzjit7b1w
Elon James White@elonjames·
What. The. Holy. Hell? RT @joshuafoust: NRO definitely wins the trolliest Maya Angelou obit award today http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/378959/rip-maya-angelou-proud-gun-owner-and-user-tim-cavanaugh?utm_source=PANTHEON_STRIPPED&utm_medium=PANTHEON_STRIPPED …
Maya Angelou Passes Away, Right Wingers Spew Hatred and Racism
Pie-onist Overlord Wingnuts40 minutes ago • Views: 1,538
America’s beloved poet, Maya Angelou, passed away at age 86.
Maya Angelou, the memoirist and poet whose landmark book of 1969, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — which describes in lyrical, unsparing prose her childhood in the Jim Crow South — was among the first autobiographies by a 20th-century black woman to reach a wide general readership, died on Wednesday in her home. She was 86 and lived in Winston-Salem, N.C.
And of course, right on cue, wingnuts on Twitter erupted with their trademark racist rage.
Read more at http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/43434_Maya_Angelou_Passes_Away_Right_Wingers_Spew_Hatred_and_Racism#wgwsR46pZY1LGYYH.99
Those depraved, hateful racists are sputtering along in their broken-down jalopies of hate while the rest of us are driving in style in our sleek cars of love rejoicing in our diversity!
I am moved to tears by President Obama’s tribute to her.
God bless our President and our First Lady!
Thank you, God, for Maya Angelou!
TV ONE ON POINT
Maya Angelou (1 of 5) With Armstrong Williams
https://twitter.com/NewsBreaker/status/471678046224019457/photo/1
Maya Angelou has been loved by people from around the world:
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
Maya Angelou
Ms. Maya Angelou, you will always live in my heart!
Thank you for your inspirational words!
http://twitter.com/sesamestreet/status/471651487949811712/photo/1
“Tributes pour in for Maya Angelou”
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/maya-angelou-dies-stars-react/
http://twitter.com/roccodispirito/status/471653054190596096/photo/1
https://twitter.com/6abcBreaking/status/471647939551842304/photo/1
I love this photo of Maya Angelou. She loved to sign her books with the word “JOY!”
You can see her joyful heart in this photo!
Yes; Maya was full of God’s LIGHT
She certainly was full of His light!
Ametia, you posted just the right video testifying to how Maya lived her life!
What I get goose bumps about is the fact that Maya Angelou truly got to witness the election of America’s first BLACK president.
Thank you, rikyrah, for your beautiful tribute to Dr. Angelou!!!
Thank you Dr. Angelou.
For your words and your spirit and your presence.
And for being a role model to millions of women who never met you.
Your photo/video post is a fitting TRIBUTE to Dr. Maya Angelou, Rikyrah. THANK YOU!
Maya was truly a RENAISSANCE WOMEN.
Maya Angelou
Rest In Peace, Phenomenal woman!
Maya Angelou ✔ @DrMayaAngelou
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Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.
1:43 PM – 23 May 2014
This was Maya’s last Tweet. Maya heard the voice of God, calling her home.
Well done, thy GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT.
Wow!
Like SG2, all I can say is
Wow!
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Maya Angelou
Wow! Godspeed to you, Ms Maya Angelou. You were truly a PHENOMENAL WOMAN.