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We really are 15 countries, and it's remarkable that each of us thinks we represent the real America. The Midwesterner in Kansas, the black American in Durham - both are certain they are the real American.

Maya Angelou

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Maya Angelou
Age: 86 †
Born: 1928
Born: April 4
Died: 2014
Died: May 28
Author
Autobiographer
Comedian
Dancer
Essayist
Film Director
Film Producer
Human Rights Activist
Journalist
Novelist
Playwright
Politician
St. Louis
Missouri
Marguerite Annie Johnson
Marguerite Johnson
Marguerite Ann Johnson
Marguerite Anne Johnson
Thinking
American
Kansas
Culture
Represent
Black
Remarkable
Certain
Diversity
America
Thinks
Country
Countries
Midwesterner
Real
Atheism
Midwesterners
Really
Justice
Durham

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I know some people might think it odd - unworthy even - for me to have written a cookbook, but I make no apologies. The U.S. poet laureate Billy Collins thought I had demeaned myself by writing poetry for Hallmark Cards, but I am the people's poet so I write for the people.
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Life loves the liver of it.
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I am a very religious person, so it is the presence of God, the constant unwavering, unrelenting presence of God which continues to help me to keep a character which I am proud to show.
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Everybody is worth everything.
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When the human race neglects its weaker members, when the family neglects its weakest one - it's the first blow in a suicidal movement.
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Sometimes guns really matter. Protecting those who need protection - children, women, minorities in rough parts of town, old folks living in places where cops aren't nearby. Guns are true empowerment for the powerless.
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A rose by any other name may smell as sweet, but a woman called by a devaluing name will only be weakened by the misnomer.
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All of us knows, not what is expedient, not what is going to make us popular, not what the policy is, or the company policy - but in truth each of us knows what is the right thing to do. And that's how I am guided.
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It's good to remember that in crises, natural crises, human beings forget for awhile their ignorances, their biases, their prejudices. For a little while, neighbors help neighbors and strangers help strangers.
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Martin Luther King was a human being with a brilliant mind, a powerful heart, and insight, and courage and also with a sense of humor. So he was accessible.
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Those of us who submitted or surrendered our ideas and dreams and identities to the 'leaders' must take back our rights, our identities, our responsibilities.
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Don't let the man bring you down.
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Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.
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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?
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You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.
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When teachers or people in authority put me down or in one way or another tried to make me feel less than equal to what they thought I should be - my mother was on my side. It was amazing.
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Self-pity in its early stage is as snug as a feather mattress. Only when it hardens does it become uncomfortable.
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Hold those things that tell your history and protect them. During slavery, who was able to read or write or keep anything? The ability to have somebody to tell your story to is so important. It says: 'I was here. I may be sold tomorrow. But you know I was here.'
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I want to write so well that a person is 30 or 40 pages in a book of mine ... before she realizes she's reading.
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One of the problems we have as writers is we don't take ourselves seriously while writing being serious is setting aside a time and saying if it comes, good if it doesn't come, good, I'll just sit here.
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