Maya Angelou Has Passed Away

[Jordan Catalano]

I just saw a report saying she has died. Such an incredibly sad day...

[Eris0303]

RIP
U.S. AUTHOR, POET MAYA ANGELOU HAS DIED AT AGE 86 IN NORTH CAROLINA

[NYadgal]

CNN is reporting it now.

Rest in great peace, Ms. Angelou. Rest in great, great peace.

[SNAFU]

She has left behind a wonderful legacy! R.I.P. and thank-you!

[CarlosAlberto]

One of my personal heroes. R.I.P.

[James885]

Very sad to hear this.

[Broadwayboobs]

May light perpetual shine upon her.

[NYadgal]

Amen.

[Reginald Tresilian]

She was one of those (very few) people I just sort of assumed would always be around, to inspire us, comfort us, and make us think.

And, of course, in a very important way, she will.

[blacktie]

She will be missed and forever cherished.

It would have been fitting to have this in the main forum...1973 Tony nominee for Best Featured Actress.

[GlindatheGood22]

I'm so saddened by this. A very great lady.

[NYadgal]

The tributes that are pouring in from around the world are awe-inspiring.

What a great, great legacy.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Another treasure leaves us. RIP.

[beautywickedlover]

Very, very sad to hear this news. I've always loved her life story ever since I read and watched the book and film adaptations of 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings'. She left behind such a legacy. RIP.

[PalJoey]

And we should remember on this board that she was a singer and a dancer (she studied with Martha Graham!) and an actress before she became a writer and a poet and a sage.

She played Carla in an international touring company of Porgy and Bess in 1954. She played in London, at La Scala, in Moscow and in the Middle East. Truman Capote traveled with them and wrote about it in "The Muses Are Calling."

This is one of my favorite photographs of her, with James Baldwin:

[wexy]

86 is a good run. May she rest in peace...

[PalJoey]

From the poem "On the Pulse of Morning," read by Dr. Angelou at Bill Clinton's inauguration:

http://youtu.be/59xGmHzxtZ4



There is a true yearning to respond to
The singing River and the wise Rock.
So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew
The African, the Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheik,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher.
They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.

[HorseTears]

She was one of those (very few) people I just sort of assumed would always be around, to inspire us, comfort us, and make us think.

REG - I know exactly what you mean. I felt the same way. I moved to the US as a 9 year old and I recall seeing her first on these grainy PBS educational videos that our teachers would sometimes play -- videos from the early 70s. To me, it felt like she always existed, always would.


I know everyone's going gaga over Maya Angelou quotes, but this is one of my favorites. I think it applies to all human connection, but it perhaps has special meaning to creative artists:

"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."

[Hulmeman]

A great human being, a very important voice and Maya Angelou will live on like all great people.

[strummergirl]

RIP

I honestly thought she was immortal.

[IAMWHATIAM]

She definitely left this world a better place than she found it. RIP to an inspired and inspiring icon.

[javero]

She's already missed.

[fflagg]

Class. Compassion. Wisdom.

[FindingNamo]

We should all take a page from her book, right fflagg?

[The Josh]

Dr Angelou was a true renaissance woman.
A few of her accomplishments summed up in The Onion, of all places.

[madbrian]

One of my first thoughts was that her bucket list must have been full of check marks. However, upoon reflection, given the way she lived her life, it probably wasn't. Despite her remarkable accomplishments, I would imagine she would constantly be adding to her list.