Photograph Courtesy of Adria Richards, Wikimedia Commons
St. Louis native and celebrated poet Dr. Maya Angelou turns 84 today. Angelou, who speaks a total of six languages (what an asset for a poet!) has also been a dancer, actress, playwright, memoirist, historian, professor, film producer, and civil rights leader. She is truly, as her website notes, "a global renaissance woman." Chicago writer Marcie Hill spoke with her recently, and we're pleased to kick off our National Poetry Month coverage with her Q&A with Dr. Angelou.
“We want to reach a time when there won’t be Black History Month, when black history will be so integrated into American history that we study it along with every other history." How close do you think that day is?
We are about as close as we were about 100 years ago. We are a little better off. We have to come to a place where ignorance doesn’t have full sway. And as you know, that is not true today. Ignorance is not only swaying, it’s swaying and sashaying all over the place. All you have to do is turn on the television, turn on the radio, pick up a newspaper and you’ll see that racism is still alive and un-well in our country.
There is a big huge disconnect with our younger generations. As long as they are not being taught, I don’t know when it Black History will actually be integrated into American History.
And the fact is that our young people are not taught Black history, and hasn’t been taught in the since the '50s. But there was a time prior to that when Black History was taught at home, in the kitchen as the mama was fixing the food or as the father was coming in from work. People talked about Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth. People talked to the children and told the stories of Mary McLeod Bethune and WEB DuBois. The children knew that. In the south, children studied those people’s history in black schools.
Then the '50s came along. And along with it came some integration. And along with integration, some African-Americans wiped their hands and said, “Whew, it’s all over now!” Thinking they can forget. And when people talked to them about history, about slavery, they responded, “Don’t mention slavery to me.”
So, our children roaming the street nowadays, and filling the jails and prisons, some of the weight of that belongs in our lap and at our door because we gave it up. So, we can’t blame that on Charlie.
How did you gain so much wisdom?
At one time in my life, when I was 7 until I was 13, I was a mute. I had been raped, and I told the name of the rapist; he was killed. And I thought my voice, my 7 year-old wisdom and logic, told me that my voice had killed a man, and so I stopped talking to everyone except my brother. I knew my voice couldn’t hurt my brother because he loved me too much, and I loved him too much. And I didn’t feel that way about anybody else. So, he allowed me the exchange because of our love.
So, I learned to listen. And I used to sometimes think of my whole body as an ear. I can go into a room and sit and listen. I think in that way I learned what, I learned something. And if I had wisdom, I believe some of it came from that. Some came from listening, quietly. And I still do that. I think that’s how I learned to speak languages...because I listen.
How does it feel to still receive accolades, even after 60 years of honors and 60 honorary degrees?
Well, each time a person says good morning to me, it’s already a blessing. Each time a friend acts friendly, it’s a blessing. And if a stranger or person holds me in this regard says something kind about me, I’m grateful. Along with being a good listener, I’m also a grateful person. I’m grateful.
Did you used to roller skate?
Oh, yes, when I was young. I see. Well, you know, that’s an interesting question, because no has ever asked me that before. I’m sitting at my kitchen table, and I have a robe on, no shoes. And I’m remembering. As you ask me about roller skating, I started to sit up a little bit straighter. And I realize that one of the things that roller skating did that I have in my life today, and that is, it insists that if you are going to roller skate, you must have balance.
And that is true about life itself. If you’re going to be a writer, be sure to have balance. If you’re going to be a good friend, have balance. If you’re going to be a Christian or Muslim or Buddhist or Shintuist, be sure you’re balanced. Don’t go off on the far end; if you do on roller skates, you’ll tip over much. If you go too far to the left, you’ll fall right on your side, and your legs would go up in the air. So, you want to always have balance.
To read some of Angelou's work online, check out her entry at the National Poetry Foundation's website.
