An Instrumental Voice...

An instrumental voice left this place this past week. A voice that served as a catalyst for many reforms and agents of awareness. I'm speaking of Dr. Maya Angelou. She wrote her first book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and opened a myriad of discussion, debate, and outlook; both historical and personal. 

I admire John Singleton for exposing her to pop culture through one of my favorite films, Poetic Justice, without which; most would not have known this mystic lady nor her expressive poetry. That film alone had every young woman, not just of Black descent, but most women believing and reciting Phenomenal Woman! From every school or church program, to every fashion and talent show somewhere, someone performed Phenominal Woman. Especially in the 90's! 

In honor of Dr. Maya Angelou and ALL of her great work; I'm going to share some of my favorite quotes:

Love is a virus. It can happen to anybody at any time. 

Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud. 

Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at it's destination full of hope. 

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. 

There is nothing so pitiful as a young cynic because he has gone from  knowing nothing to believing nothing.

 

and the epitome of my extreme admiration for her words, that I have on my Facebook page under favorite quotes:

A woman should have enough money in her control to move out and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to.

She was FULL of life! Inspiring! Motivating! Wisdom!

She once said she'd thought she'd be writing until God called for her by name...and she was absolutely correct. She was indeed writing. Her story. Her voice continues to inspire. Her legacy is still being written by those that are stimulated to create a specific prose or provoked to recite or share her very words. What a captivating life to have lived! Inspiring for generations!

Rest in Paradise ~Dr. Maya Angelou