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Maya Angelou: Be a rainbow in the clouds
Sep 28, 2007 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by John Bailey, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer, published 9/28/07
Inspiration may take many forms. Some find it in a book, and others find it through action. The process is no different for Dr. Maya Angelou, who spoke in Rome on Thursday.
“My inspiration right now is a young man, who is a professor here,” she told a crowd at The Forum. “He never liked to read before he read my book, and now he is inspired to write more honestly, in more depth, and in better English,” said Angelou. “When someone reads 30 pages into a book before they know they’re reading, that inspires me.”
The noted author and poet told members of the audience to be an inspiration to others.
“Each one of us has the possibility, probability and privilege to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
However, she said, those “heroes and sheroes” in our lives may not be the people we want to be our heroes. "Sometimes they’ll embarrass us because they’re too fat, too obese, too skinny, could use some serious dental work or can kick English to the curb.”
She spoke of her childhood and her uncle, who although crippled and living in a time when blacks had little political power, managed to reach out and motivate a man who became mayor of Little Rock, Ark., as well as inspiring Angelou herself.
“Be brave enough, have courage. It is the most important of all the virtues,” said Angelou. “To not be erratic and be that thing time after time after time, you have to have courage."
However, she told the audience, courage isn’t something that people are born with — it is something that they develop. “To develop courage you have to start developing courage as you do any other muscle. You have to start with small things and build it up.”
Prior to her speech, winners of the One Book, Many Voices writing contest were able to meet Angelou. The contest invited local high school students and the community to read Angelou’s book “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and tell what the book meant to them in poetry or prose.
“She has a presence about her that makes you want to scream and shout like at a Pentecostal meeting, but also you get a feeling of reverence like at a Catholic mass,” said Brett Adams after meeting Angelou. “She makes you want to hug her like your grandmother.” Brett, a Model High School senior, won with his poem titled “Amen.”
Katie Miller, who was awarded for her essay “Escaping the Cage,” said she was also very moved by the meeting. “Her ability to deal with her struggles has inspired me to deal with mine in my life,” said Katie, a junior at Pepperell High School.
“She cared enough to put her life in the book,” said Shymeria Madden, of Rome High School, who won with her poem “The Mirror.” “She went through all of this stuff and still grew up to be this beautiful, poetic and strong woman.”
Click here for a video of Angelou speaking at The Forum.
Dr. Maya Angelou's Sept. 27 lecture was part of the One Book/Many Voices initative, a program seeking to foster literacy, to encourage dialogue and to build community in Rome and Floyd County. Darlington co-sponsored the event.
Inspiration may take many forms. Some find it in a book, and others find it through action. The process is no different for Dr. Maya Angelou, who spoke in Rome on Thursday.
“My inspiration right now is a young man, who is a professor here,” she told a crowd at The Forum. “He never liked to read before he read my book, and now he is inspired to write more honestly, in more depth, and in better English,” said Angelou. “When someone reads 30 pages into a book before they know they’re reading, that inspires me.”
The noted author and poet told members of the audience to be an inspiration to others.
“Each one of us has the possibility, probability and privilege to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
However, she said, those “heroes and sheroes” in our lives may not be the people we want to be our heroes. "Sometimes they’ll embarrass us because they’re too fat, too obese, too skinny, could use some serious dental work or can kick English to the curb.”
She spoke of her childhood and her uncle, who although crippled and living in a time when blacks had little political power, managed to reach out and motivate a man who became mayor of Little Rock, Ark., as well as inspiring Angelou herself.
“Be brave enough, have courage. It is the most important of all the virtues,” said Angelou. “To not be erratic and be that thing time after time after time, you have to have courage."
However, she told the audience, courage isn’t something that people are born with — it is something that they develop. “To develop courage you have to start developing courage as you do any other muscle. You have to start with small things and build it up.”
Prior to her speech, winners of the One Book, Many Voices writing contest were able to meet Angelou. The contest invited local high school students and the community to read Angelou’s book “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” and tell what the book meant to them in poetry or prose.
“She has a presence about her that makes you want to scream and shout like at a Pentecostal meeting, but also you get a feeling of reverence like at a Catholic mass,” said Brett Adams after meeting Angelou. “She makes you want to hug her like your grandmother.” Brett, a Model High School senior, won with his poem titled “Amen.”
Katie Miller, who was awarded for her essay “Escaping the Cage,” said she was also very moved by the meeting. “Her ability to deal with her struggles has inspired me to deal with mine in my life,” said Katie, a junior at Pepperell High School.
“She cared enough to put her life in the book,” said Shymeria Madden, of Rome High School, who won with her poem “The Mirror.” “She went through all of this stuff and still grew up to be this beautiful, poetic and strong woman.”
Click here for a video of Angelou speaking at The Forum.
Dr. Maya Angelou's Sept. 27 lecture was part of the One Book/Many Voices initative, a program seeking to foster literacy, to encourage dialogue and to build community in Rome and Floyd County. Darlington co-sponsored the event.
