I’m copping out tonight. I feel like everyone knows about Maya Angelou. Then again it is always shocking about who you do not know about. It’s been a very scary day. Lots of explosions of some sort in the hood. Or maybe really loud gunshots? I’ m not sure what is happening.
Also, I’ve had an issue on Twitter over a discussion I probably should have never gotten involved in about Tiffany of RHOD and the chicken feet. I stuck up for someone who someone and a guy I used to like was calling me a racist over not wanting to eat chicken feet. The more I wanted to talk to him about what he said to me the more he wanted to call me a racist and degrade me. I should have just blocked him but I’ve always liked him on Twitter. So I let him just keep going. I’m still confused and hurt. If we are not friends I could give two shits what you say about me. But this guy, I followed on Twitter and I really love my Twitter people. It was like the cat people were back. People I trusted. People I thought liked me suddenly saying the worst things. When running this site I get horrible things said to me every day. But, this was someone I liked. Someone I probably gave to much appreciation to.
Anyway, here are a few quotes form Maya Angelou… who is particularly inspiring to me tonight…
Still I Rise
Maya Angelou – 1928-2014
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
’Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.
Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
’Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise
I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.
I am feeling unsafe tonight. And if you are a woman, you know how that feels. Between all the weird explosions in the hood and the Twitter person who turned cat lady. I am just on edge. I promise to do better with my Black History posts soon.
I loved reading those quotes and that poem again…very inspirational in these tough times…and yes Maya…Still I Rise ❤??
I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love Maya.
Regarding chicken feet, that isn’t a black thing. My lily white neighbor wanted those chicken feet whenever we would slaughter chickens after their laying days were over.
My God, she was one of those angels the Bible talks about that roam the earth. She was so gifted. Her words are beautiful! TT, i’m sick of everyone calling racist over not eating certain foods. I LOVE collard greens but don’t like black eyed peas. Am I racist? I love corn husk tamales but don’t like refried beans. Am I racist? I don’t eat sushi. Am I racist. This entire discussion is just another way of some snob pointing fingers. Honestly, it’s a show of ignorance, like the covid deniers and anti-maskers.
I will eat your peas and refried beans! But it’s a hard no on the sushi. 🙂 When I traveled to Mexico with my parents as a teenager I was very disappointed that there was no Mexican food in Mexico. lol. I feel like traveling to China would be the same. What we think of as Mexican and Chinese food HERE is not really authentic. I did eat fish every day in Mexico. There was a little lunch shack on the beach outside of our hotel that served just whole fried fish and that was delicious. As it turns out I do not like mole sauce and authentic Mexican food. Sorry, Mexico. 🙁
When I went to Mexico the first time at age 17, I went into a store and bought a bag of sour cream an onion Ruffles potato chips. I opened the bad after I walked out, and let’s just say, what what in that bag was NOT what I would have gotten at Kroger or Giant Eagle. Yuck!!!! My underdeveloped palate from that moment always made certain to eat at the hotel before offsite excursions!
I adore Maya Angelou. I have read every book & every book of poetry. I remember PBS did an American Masters documentary ( 3 or so years ago ; it may still be on demand or you tube ) that was EXTRODINARY. Such huge talent and a well spoken woman.
Maya had so many words of wisdom and they still apply today. I know why the caged bird sings is heartbreaking and inspirational.
I know how you feel. But still I rise. ❤️
This woman was a true gem to humanity.
I’m glad that you picked her for tonight/today. It helped.
Maya resonates with many souls.
I really felt her 50 years ago as a lonely teenager…
When Facebook first began, I posted her poem of “Why The Caged Bird Sings”.
Facebook deleted it , sad to say ~