Maya Angelou dead at 86

http://myfox8.com/2014/05/28/maya-angelou-dead-at-86/ ^

[alancarp]

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Award-winning author, renowned poet and civil rights activist Dr. Maya Angelou has died. She was 86.

Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines confirmed Angelou was found by her caretaker on Wednesday morning.

[dfwgator]

Her writings were not poetry, lol

Just as rap isn't music.

[rollo tomasi]

Jesse Jackson is going to be in the midst of a huge elbow fight among Oprah, Clinton(s), Obama, etc... They probably need to have the memorial service in the Boeing Everett Factory in order to fit all the egos there (And that still won’t provide enough room).

[crazycatlady]

Who says we want them coming to Everett? We have enough problems. Obama was just here for the Oso mudslide.

[crazycatlady]

It might have been Toni Morrison or Alice Walker who declared Clinton the first black pres. But you may be right.

[crazycatlady]

I liked Oprah back in the 80s and less as the years went by. She was promoting a lot of New Age people like Eckart Tolle and Deepak Chopra that I didnt consider beneficial. There were embarrassments associated with the book club, though to her credit, she called James Frey on the carpet. Worst of all, I consider her partly responsible for getting Obama elected.
It was actually predicted. Whether it’s neti pots or authors, what Oprah endorsed had a way of succeeding. Kind of scary, actually.

[rollo tomasi]

Aaahh you are right. I forgot about the those two. Clinton was anointed by Morrison, thanks for the correction.

[Mears]

Oprah was too “touchy-feely” for me.

I’m a pragmatic Virgo and that says it all. :-)

.

[crazycatlady]

I think that it may have been in a big piece in the New Yorker. A number of prominent American authors embarrassed ( in my opinion) themselves defending Clinton and I never looked at them the same way again. Jane Smiley was one.

[Impy]

I’m pretty sure they forced us to read her in grade school.

If she weren’t a left wing activist, she’d have been a nobody.

May she RIP though.

[PghBaldy]

I am very impressed. Thank you for posting that beautiful piece. Since nothing is beautiful without the ugly to contrast, Note how once again, it is about HIM:

Statement by the President on the Passing of Maya Angelou

When her friend Nelson Mandela passed away last year, Maya Angelou wrote that “No sun outlasts its sunset, but will rise again, and bring the dawn.”

Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend, and a truly phenomenal woman. Over the course of her remarkable life, Maya was many things – an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer. But above all, she was a storyteller – and her greatest stories were true. A childhood of suffering and abuse actually drove her to stop speaking – but the voice she found helped generations of Americans find their rainbow amidst the clouds, and inspired the rest of us to be our best selves. In fact, she inspired my own mother to name my sister Maya.

Like so many others, Michelle and I will always cherish the time we were privileged to spend with Maya. With a kind word and a strong embrace, she had the ability to remind us that we are all God’s children; that we all have something to offer. And while Maya’s day may be done, we take comfort in knowing that her song will continue, “flung up to heaven” – and we celebrate the dawn that Maya Angelou helped bring.

[knittnmom]

Impressive. For a narcissist, that is ALMOST paying tribute to her.

[PghBaldy]

Almost ;) Compare and contrast that with the comment given for Ariel Sharon, which is what one says when one doesn't like someone, but doesn't want to offend:

“On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the family of former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and to the people of Israel on the loss of a leader who dedicated his life to the State of Israel. We reaffirm our unshakable commitment to Israel’s security and our appreciation for the enduring friendship between our two countries and our two peoples. We continue to strive for lasting peace and security for the people of Israel, including through our commitment to the goal of two states living side-by-side in peace and security. As Israel says goodbye to Prime Minister Sharon, we join with the Israeli people in honoring his commitment to his country.”

[the OlLine Rebel]

A friend from high school will be sad. I heard she (black) named her girls “Maya” and “Angelique”. I said nothing about that when I heard.

Communist.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually, may God bless her and forgive any of her sins. I hope she did right by the Lord in the end and saw the error of her views.

[the OlLine Rebel]

You know, is that simply narcissism, or just name-dropping?

He seems to love pointing out all his contacts.

[woweeitsme]

I never heard of this woman before yesterday. I guess that’s because I never had the joy of going to a 4-year university.

[Nowhere Man]

She seemed to talk slow to me like she wasn’t running on all eight cylinders.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Not that I went it search of her efforts, but this particular piece landed on my lap of late:

---

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I’m not shouting, “I’m clean living.”
I’m whispering, “I was lost,
Now I’m found and forgiven.”

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I don’t speak of this with pride.
I’m confessing that I stumble
And need Christ to be my guide.

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I’m not trying to be strong.
I’m professing that I’m weak
And need his strength to carry on.

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I’m not bragging of success.
I’m admitting I have failed
And need God to clean my mess.

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I’m not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are far too visible
But, God believes I am worth it.

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches
So I call upon His name.

When I say…”I am a Christian.”
I’m not holier than thou.
I’m just a simple sinner
Who received God’s grace somehow

---

This to me bespeaks the fact there are those with whom I differ a great deal in how to address this world’s affairs, and yet share this common thing to all people: we are weak. He is strong by becoming weak for us.

It is because of this that I really try to hear the other side; at least to treat them as worthy of a hearing. Maybe that makes me a “moderate.” I’ll gladly let others more knowledgeable than me judge her as a poet. But I will not allow myself to judge her as a person despite the political differences we may have held in this life.

[latina4dubya]

This to me bespeaks the fact there are those with whom I differ a great deal in how to address this world’s affairs, and yet share this common thing to all people: we are weak. He is strong by becoming weak for us. It is because of this that I really try to hear the other side; at least to treat them as worthy of a hearing. Maybe that makes me a “moderate.” I’ll gladly let others more knowledgeable than me judge her as a poet. But I will not allow myself to judge her as a person despite the political differences we may have held in this life.

thank you... i feel the same way... i know what i believe, and that will have to suffice... i cannot care too much about how others may want to label me... i know that we are all made in His image... and i know that for me personally, God is asking me, teaching me, to offer grace... only He knows each man's heart... each person's struggle... that is why He alone is the one to judge... i am glad you found and shared that poem... it says a lot...

[Gamecock]

Guess who volunteered at the soup kitchen last week?

Maya Angelou!

(Sorry, just picked up on this and figured there will never be another Maya Angelou thread on FR.)