I am saddened to report that the world lost a literary legend yesterday.
Award-winning author, activist, novelist, poet, and professor Dr. Maya
Angelou — born Marguerite Johnson — has passed away this morning at the
age of 86, her literary agent Helen Brann confirms. According to her
family, she died peacefully in her Winston-Salem, North Carolina home
and was discovered by her caretaker.
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| Dr. Maya Angelou |
Dr. Angelou grew up in the Jim Crow era and was raped by her mother’s
boyfriend as a young woman. According to her famous memoir, she worked
briefly as a brothel madam and prostitute, before eventually defying the
odds and rising to international fame as a writer. She quickly became a
voice for women who found hope and strength in her story and comfort in
her words. The late poet established her literary reputation with the
1970 autobiography, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” and went on to
publish nationally acclaimed poems such as “
Phenomenal Woman” and “
Still I Rise.” She also famously delivered the poem “
On The Pulse Of Morning”
during Bill Clinton’s Inauguration in 1993.
She is one of history’s most celebrated authors who is well known for
her literary skills, but has worn many hats including Hollywood
director, actress, and Alvin Ailey dancer. Maya also held over 50
honorary degrees, three Grammy awards, and even was honored with the
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
She is survived by her son, Guy Johnson, who took to her Facebook Fan Page to confirm his mother’s passing.
"Dr. Maya Angelou passed quietly in her home before 8:00 a.m. EST. Her
family is extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a
loss of acuity or comprehension. She lived a life as a teacher,
activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality,
tolerance and peace. The family is extremely appreciative of the time we
had with her and we know that she is looking down upon us with love.
Guy B. Johnson"
To me here are the five some most memorable quotes from her:
1. 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.
2. I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.
3. Courage is the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently.
4. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way (s)he
handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled
Christmas tree lights.
5. I do not trust people who don't love themselves and yet tell me, 'I
love you.' There is an African saying which is: Be careful when a naked
person offers you a shirt.
Celebrities pay their respect
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