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21 sources of courage An Interview with Dr. Maya Angelou She knew poverty and racism intimately as a child in Stamps, Arkansas, hiding her “crippled Uncle Willie” under sacks of onions in a truck to escape his lynching by “The Boys.” A brutal sexual assault at age eight, with her attacker beaten to death afterwards, sent her into silence for years as she feared the power of her own words. Yet, Maya Angelou learned that words were the way to set herself free. Encouraged by “Mama,” her grandmother who knew that this voiceless child would become a great teacher, she has been awarded 56 honorary doctorates, several Golden Globe awards, and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for her poetry in Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ’fore I Die (1971). She wrote graphic accounts of her young years in the award-winning I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1970), followed by scores of books and dramatic outpourings evidenced by her role as the first African American woman screenwriter and director in Hollywood. Touring internationally in Porgy and Bess, she embodied pure musical tradition , crediting her success to listening to “Mama’s voice, like that of Mahalia Jackson,” and to the power of “my inherited art”—African American music. Her passion for social justice brought a close friendship with Martin Luther King, whom she memorialized in her lyrics “King: A Musical Testimony.” But it was her four years in Africa that allowed her to embrace the vibrant history she felt had been lost by so many in America. She writes, “African culture is alive and well. An African proverb spells out the truth: The ax forgets. The tree remembers.” In this interview, Dr. Angelou reflects candidly on courage, exploring life’s dreams to the fullest, and her vision of freedom for all women. In your life, where have you found the courage to take such phenomenal risks? dr. angelou: Years ago, I deduced that it costs everything to win, and that it costs everything to lose. So, if I didn’t take a risk, if I didn’t take a dare, then I would lose everything. And if I did take the dare, if I lost—I’d lose the same thing. But I might win. So since everything is always at stake, I may as well risk everything for the good thing. Risk, Courage, and Women So when I was asked if I would conduct the Boston Pops, I said, “Yes, of course.” Now it’s true I’ve gone to a few concerts at one time in my life, and I’ve been conducted, and I’ve put together choirs. But the Boston Pops with Keith Lockhart as the Maestro?!! I said “Yes” because ten more years might pass before another woman might be invited, and twenty years might pass before another African American woman might be invited. I said “Yes,” and I got a book and I read, and I found out what music they were planning to play. I put that on my tape recorder, and I played it all around my house. I played it in my bus. I played it in my car. And on that day in Massachusetts, I stepped up and conducted the Boston Pops. I sent a message that I enjoyed it so much that I’d be glad to do it a second time. But I was told they’d never invited anyone a second time. They had Ted Kennedy there that evening. So I said, “Well, that’s alright then, but I’d be glad to do it.” And I was invited the next year to do it again. So, had I not risked, I could always say, “Well, you know I was invited,” but not what it felt like. Would I have opened the door for someone else who’s coming behind me? No, I wouldn’t have. As it is now, I’ve opened the door and had fun doing it too. Has this thought that if I don’t do it I’ll never get there, and if I do it I may get somewhere , been a predominant theme for you in taking risks, then? dr. angelou: Yes, absolutely, since my early adulthood; yes, in fact, late teens. Yes. What advice would you give other women about how they can demonstrate courage and explore their life dreams? dr. angelou: I would encourage women to know first that I don’t believe that anyone is...

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