Most of us have favorite writers who have authored the types of books we most like to read. Whether
we prefer historical novels, mysteries, romance novels, how-to books, whatever!! And much of the
time our preferences are multiple. We like to read various kinds of books by various authors. Many years ago, and I don't remember exactly when or how, I became aware of Maya Angelou. And then I became a little obsessed about her, reading all of her books that I could get my hands on. In her
lifetime, she wrote autobiographical books, much poetry and books of essays. The first one I read was "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings", written in 1969. If you haven't read it, I encourage you to do so. Absolutely a life changing read, chronicling the woman's early and very difficult life. Opened my eyes in ways I can't even describe.
Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson in 1928 in St. Louis. She is called an American poet, memoirist and civil rights activist. In her lifetime she published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows. Many may remember her for her 1977 role in the made for TV movie, "Roots". She was a very close friend of Oprah Winfrey and Winfrey aired many of her shows with Ms. Angelou as her
guest.
After receiving acclaim for Caged Bird, Angelou began to publicly address her personal life and was
respected for her role as a spokesperson for black people and all women. Through her many gifts, Maya Angelou touched people's lives in remarkable ways. She touched people of all colors and
backgrounds. To say that she was inspiring seems very inadequate. But through her work, her passion and her ability to speak to one's heart, she certainly has inspired my life.
On January 20, 1993 at the inauguration of President William Jefferson Clinton, Maya Angelou
read a poem, "On The Pulse of Morning", written specifically for the event.
In the early fall of 2007 I had read in the newspaper that Ms. Angelou would be speaking at
SIU-Carbondale. When I read the ad, her engagement was just a few days away. I was very excited
and was trying to decide if I would be able to attend. That morning my old friend, Sue Reiman, came
bounding through my office door and said simply, "Ya' wanna go?" I knew immediately what she
was referring to and shouted, "Yes! I do!" We went together. On a cold, dark, rainy evening
Sue and I ill-advisedly took off down Route 3, on our way to Carbondale. Sue knew the campus really well and drove us right to the appointed location. The crowd was very large and we waited in
line for at least two hours before we were admitted into the auditorium. The standing was very
difficult for Sue, as she was not well, but we did it and we did it happily. Imagine how surprised we
were when Ms. Angelou was finally ushered into the room and on to the stage by Chester native and
then SIU student Nate Brown! Maya Angelou was a tall woman, with broad shoulders and a smile that could light a room! Her presence in the room immediately changed the very atmosphere. During
nearly two hours she made us cry. She made us laugh. Men and women. Young and old. Her words and the meaning behind them were deep and heart changing. I can only say that her unique delivery was so large and powerful, electrifying the large auditorium.
I have always been so grateful for my Maya Angelou experience - and for the fact that Sue and I were able to share it. We laughed that night like two young girls. And our lives were forever altered for
having been in that auditorium that evening. Sue's forever, though, was brief. A little over a month after that night, Sue lost her battle with cancer.
Maya Angelou died May 28, 2014 at the age of 86. But her work and her inspiration go on through the work she left behind. A huge legacy for us all. I could write so much in today's column about
Ms. Angelou's writings, her wonderful quotes, her experiences. But that would be wrong. I hope
you will decide to experience her on your own, if you have not already. I encourage you to make
the effort to pick up one of her books and read it. I hope you find her life and her writings as
inspirational as I have.
Not today, but earlier this week I actually had coffee on the porch. It felt marvelous!
