Dr. Maya Angelou In Conversation with Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole - National Portrait Gallery

In collaboration with Smithsonian colleagues from the National Museum of African Art, the National Portrait Gallery hosted an event on Saturday, April 5, 2014 in which both museums paid tribute to Maya Angelou, one of the most revered authors in the United States. Angelou, whose eighty-sixth birthday was April 4-the day before-commented on what she considered was one of her great achievements over eight decades-patience. "You can only have patience if you have courage," she stated, adding that "Reverend [Martin Luther] King had great patience."
During the event at the McEvoy Auditorium in the Donald W. Reynolds Center, a portrait of Angelou by Atlanta-based artist Ross Rossin was unveiled. Assisting Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet and NMAfA director Johnnetta Cole in the unveiling was Angelou's friend and protégé Oprah Winfrey, and former ambassador Andrew Young.
Angelou discussed the works and humanity of Martin Luther King at length; King, who was killed on Angelou's fortieth birthday, was a great friend of the author and a colleague in the fight for civil rights. Of him she also noted, "People can only do what they know to do. Reverend King did what he knew to do. He was compassionate; he was kind." Angelou spoke at length on civil rights, and her discussion culminated in the observation that the fight for rights includes work on behalf of all protected classes (protected class is the legal term used to describe a group of people who are protected from discrimination by federal law), regardless of gender, race, religion, and individuals with physical and mental challenges. "We need more people involved in the civil rights movement-civil rights, not just race rights."
Read more about the event, on our blog: face2face.si.edu/my_weblog/201...
Artwork:
Maya Angelou / Ross R. Rossin / Oil on canvas, 2013 / National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Andrew J. Young Foundation; © Ross R. Rossin

[@AlfaEricWashDC]

"You can tell them anything, just do so with a voice that doesn't blame them for not knowing" GEM!

[@jametoriaburton6201]

Watching this program in 2024 is almost surreal given the events that have occurred over the past 10 years.in this country. Dr. Maya Angelou's presence is missed in this day and time. Thankfully, Dr. Cole is still here with us. Let us appreciate our elders and give them their flowers while they are still among us, while honoring the elders looking down over us to keep the legacy going. This recording is precious because Dr. Angelou passed just over a month later in May 2014 and her words still ring ever more today.

[@andytaylor5960]

Impossible not to love Dr Maya Angelou 😘 😘

[@dorotheacash5163]

I wish that everyone should listen to this conversation and know Dr Angelou's story. But, even more so our young people who are looking for instant gratification. Maybe this would quell some of the jealousies, robberies, killings. We've lost a great voice, lets listen to the echo of that voice.

[@munachimchukwuma1479]

Dorothea Cash Amen.

[@charlottemcmichael6006]

BEAUTIFUL woman

[@bettymarco6022]

This is a great interview.

[@stephenwood3344]

Such a profound presence she has

[@starrpage847]

Why is the sound so bad...don't they know they are making history here?? (perhaps because I am into sound that this bothers me so...)

[@hinemoakaikingi534]

I love this beautiful story .she is the best top inthe whole world 100% The greatest of all times, I love her so much .it hit my heart .my heart was bounding .it really hit my heart it went from my heart 2 my brain and when it went back 2 time my heart I feel it very strong,very powerful it is Amazing HONESTLY AMEN

[@eileenboyce7789]

Mya Angelo must had sacrificed most of her leisure times, to learn the psychological pleasure, to teach Humans, that all, who were created by God, with a voice box, for talking, should have the dignity how to communicate with God, given platonic LOVE.

[@madub3145]

23;49 when it comes off _____ ? i dont know what she said

[@BDISRI]

"When it comes automatically."