Her opening words, in the form of a melodic spiritual song, would sum up the entire evening’s message: “When it looks like the sun won’t shine anymore, God puts a rainbow in the clouds.”
Dr. Maya Angelou left an unmistakable impression on those in attendance Sunday night at McArthur Court. Carrying a message of empowerment and acceptance, the renowned poet, speaker and performer divided the evening into equal portions of poetry readings and inspiring anecdotes.
Emerging from the wings to a standing ovation, Angelou brought with her a palpable energy that permeated the crowd throughout her hour-long appearance. One couldn’t help but feel as though, at least for an evening, Angelou’s ideal of cultural harmony was not just a pipe-dream — it was a reality.
Starting with an autobiographical account of her upbringing in Arkansas, the speaker segued into the story of her Uncle Willy, a disabled man who taught the young girl her multiplication tables. Upon his death, Angelou learned that this man, so limited by society’s standards, had touched the lives of the first two African American men to hold office in Arkansas. The man inspired her to write a song called “Willy” for the man, which she then performed for the audience.
Over and over, Angelou returned to this idea of the power of the individual.
Interspersed with her own poems and songs, Angelou read a number of works by celebrated poet Paul Laurence Dunbar, including “A Negro Love Song.”
“This was a poem written for a man’s voice, but, honey, this is a woman’s poem,” Angelou said, before launching into the sexy poem that the audience cheered.
Later, she described America as the “Yes, I can” country, capable of the greatest liberation and the worst enslavement, and she challenged the youth to change their world.
“I’m sorry our legacy to you wasn’t more successful, but this is your world — and you’re up for the challenge,” Angelou said.
Angelou’s regal voice filled McArthur Court with an assurance that could not be ignored. But who knew the woman had such a spirited sense of humor? The highlight of the evening may not have been her words of motivation, but a simple poem about the joys of smoking cigarettes and eating steak. Angelou said she wrote the verse after a decidedly serious waitress at a health food restaurant nearly strangled the poet when she lit up a cigarette.
And finally, the doctor came back to her opening words, but with a more direct message to the audience: “Each of us has the potential to be the rainbow in the clouds.”