RIP Maya Angelou

[Glassfan]

Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86

(CNN) -- A literary voice revered globally for her poetic command and her commitment to civil rights has fallen silent.

Maya Angelou died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, said her literary agent, Helen Brann. Angelou had been "frail" and suffering from heart problems, the agent said.

James Baldwin and Maya Angelou

As a White boy living in a White neighborhood going to White schools, Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was my first taste of the Black experience in America.

 

[Cutlass]

RIP

 

[Gori the Grey]

May flights of uncaged birds sing thee to thy rest.

 

[Farm Boy]

Now that was an amazing person. She'll be missed.

 

[Antilogic]

I remember reading her works years ago in school, and much like Glassfan, it was an eye-opening experience for me.

RIP.

 

[NovaKart]

There was a recording of one of her poems on encarta encyclopedia. When I was about 13 I listened to it a few times and was then able to imitate her voice so well that people couldn't tell the difference between me and her when listening to us on the phone. I never called any organizations pretending to be Maya Angelou or anything like that.

Anyway, I also read some of her autobiographies and it was very interesting. If anyone wants to know about growing up under segregation in the South it's a great choice to read.

 

[classical_hero]

I only know her from the Simpsons. Considering I am Australian and not American.
"The ebony fighter awakens, dabbled with the dewy beads of morn. It is a Mach-5 child, forever bound to suckle from the shriveled breast of Congress."

 

[Borachio]

Yes. Sad news. But she had a long, fulfilling and meaningful life. So that's something to celebrate.

I've never read anything of hers. I really must!

She was raped at 7 by her mother's boyfriend and didn't speak at all for the next 5 years. After which no one could shut her up.

The boyfriend was later killed by her mother's brothers. And she said she bore the guilt of his death for the rest of her life.

Which I think is remarkable.

 

[Rashiminos]

On to better places.

 

[Glassfan]

Maya Angelou Memorial Service: Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama Honor Icon

A crowd of family and friends gathered for a memorial service in North Carolina to honor Maya Angelou and her indelible voice as an author, activist and luminary.

Among those who called Angelou a "mentor, mother/sister and friend” was Oprah Winfrey, who joined dignitaries, including former President Bill Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama, to reflect on the renaissance woman's prolific legacy. The service was held at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, where Angelou taught for three decades.

Maya Angelou Memorial Service Attended By Oprah, Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama And More

Family and friends, both famous and anonymous, gathered Saturday to remember one of the 20th century's most famous black writers. Amid tears, laughter, and gospel singing, they met at Wake Forest University, where she taught for 32 years though she never graduated from college. Dr. Angelou, as she liked to be addressed out of respect for all the honorary degrees she received, died May 28 at age 86.