Maya Angelou Poem "The Mask"

[@resipsaloquitur13]

Dear God, I love this woman like she was my own grandmother.

[@edeinspirendumbi8132]

Me too. I never got to meet her, but through the years her words resonate in my soul.

[@respectfullyyours1111]

She is our grandmother not by flesh but by spirit.

[@loristamm9158]

Yes! I say she is my grandma too 💞 RIP Dear Grandma

[@OleSamSeed]

She is our grandmother.

[@akeeriehughes1835]

I wish she my grandmother so I can listen to her poem ♥️

[@Kimbururu]

She could've been the president of the United States if she wanted to. What a woman! Phenomenal Woman....

[@victorayala5010]

Phenomenally

[@queerantine69]

We need twenty of her today😭

[@36isnotold]

Her job was so much more important than that. Her job was to change the world and she did.

[@saraangel8768]

@@36isnotold Amen!!

[@kparkermillennium]

@NEGUS ASKARI HODARI ❤

[@TheBlackFenceCat]

"No human being can be more human being than another human." Beautiful and true words. To everyone who agrees, have a blessed day. Peace.

[@orafranc237]

i beg to differ

[@orafranc237]

i beg to differ

[@rubywedderburn6528]

Blessings to you too 🙏

[@FiremarshalM1]

Thank you. 🦋

[@nancymunji1204]

, @@orafranc237

[@keibowman1996]

The spirit of God..... moves through her voice

[@momackay]

Love..... moves through her voice.

[@Michael65429]

@@momackay God is Love...

[@josephotieno5907]

True vessel of God

[@ShedDwellerMakerandRepairer]

Nope. Thats all her. She's incredible.

[@meegejuuu2305]

Her wisdom is just beautiful.

[@liquidpersuasion]

gotta respect a woman who can make a grownass black man pull down his sunglasses to wipe off a tear on BET.

[@13ird]

The atmosphere shifted right when you left us Mama Dr. Maya. We love you ❤️🥹

[@jeje4042]

Nothing can compare to this lady who blessed our lives

[@beautyroses8771]

"The truth is: no human being can be more human than another human being." Such profound words.

[@donnadaisy333]

Yes.

[@cebosibisi9786]

Who's here in 2021? So profound! Still makes me cry.

[@ladiej32]

[@ladiej32]

2022

[@jeje4042]

Here in 2024 & yes she is timeless and her profound words and the 'shape' that she had of the world

[@rebekahwilliams5352]

What an amazing woman. To rise out of ashes without bitterness but love.

[@KellyMarie250]

"Bring peace in your heart whenever you go anywhere. ... You understand? It's my prayer for you." I just love that. Thank you for posting.

[@Gestureye7x]

This is one of my all time favorite poems by Dr.Maya Angelo. I remember watching it when it first aired, and tears streamed down my face. What a poet, and true inspiration she was for women and men everywhere. IT was through this poem, I learned I had to take off a mask, and never put it on again. Love

[@basskimmie123]

Jester Jenkins :*O)

[@dwhite8997]

We wear the mask to keep our secrets. They don't deserve to see our pain

[@acaciadow580]

The sound of this woman's voice simply gives me chills and goosebumps.her voice is amazing and what she has to say is soo real and inspires me.this woman is so wise and loving.she makes me smile whenever I see her :) simply amazing! Rest in peace Maya Angelou. I love everything you did! You will live on forsure! Gone but NEVER forgotten.

[@ellenvickers5139]

She is so true with what she says GOD loves us all the same...PEACE

[@MrPanorama92]

I saw this one Sunday, while walking out the door on the way to Sunday school; I couldn't help my cry.

[@NRaisa]

No human can be more human than another human being. (love)

[@orafranc237]

i dont agree with that, but that doesn't matter

[@02986-M]

@@orafranc237 You dont have to agree but if you arent our race you will "never" understand. I say this unapapologetically.

[@sbudaerwinmagagula3552]

"But sugar it was our submission that made your world go round..."

[@Ali_Levon]

I cried so hard when I heard this poem for the first time... so thankful for my ancestors and all they went through just so I can be here.

[@Karamel2233]

What a gem...what a rare and fine gem....I'm glad that she is one of MY people!!!!!

[@jescellemarengo]

Why is she gone? Where is she for me and all of us, besides memories and replayed poems? Now that I need her, so did God... But grateful am I that she lives on to teach me enough...

[@BlueForTheRoses]

I heard Ms. Angelou recite this YEARS ago...I've ALWAYS remembered this, more than anything else I've heard from/by her. It stuck with me, and is actually something I've done in life to keep from breaking down when things become too much for me to bear.

[@Userbde7mfsym]

rest in peace Maya Angelou rest in peace

[@tyh8464]

Amen

[@msjma2549]

A Great Soul has passed in these times when we need her most. May Dr. Angelo's poems live on to teach the children, awaken the masses and connect to make us whole.

[@mesashanchemo7577]

Jeanne-Marie Aurnague dr

[@jesspraise35]

Beautiful!!!!

[@melaniewhite7893]

Dr. Maya 's voice is like a warm hug on a cold Chicago day. 😊

[@marymoroschan2637]

We wear the mask that grins and lies. It shades our cheeks and hides our eyes. This debt we pay to human guile With torn and bleeding hearts… We smile and mouth the myriad subtleties. Why should the world think otherwise In counting all our tears and sighs. Nay let them only see us while We wear the mask. We smile but oh my God Our tears to thee from tortured souls arise And we sing Oh Baby doll, now we sing… The clay is vile beneath our feet And long the mile But let the world think otherwise. We wear the mask. When I think about myself I almost laugh myself to death. My life has been one great big joke! A dance that’s walked a song that’s spoke. I laugh so hard HA! HA! I almos’ choke When I think about myself. Seventy years in these folks’ world The child I works for calls me girl I say “HA! HA! HA! Yes ma’am!” For workin’s sake I’m too proud to bend and Too poor to break So…I laugh! Until my stomach ache When I think about myself. My folks can make me split my side I laugh so hard, HA! HA! I nearly died The tales they tell sound just like lying They grow the fruit but eat the rind. Hmm huh! I laugh uhuh huh huh… Until I start to cry when I think about myself And my folks and the children. My fathers sit on benches, Their flesh count every plank, The slats leave dents of darkness Deep in their withered flank. And they gnarled like broken candles, All waxed and burned profound. They say, but sugar, it was our submission that made your world go round. There in those pleated faces I see the auction block The chains and slavery’s coffles The whip and lash and stock. My fathers speak in voices That shred my fact and sound They say, but sugar, it was our submission that made your world go round. They laugh to conceal their crying, They shuffle through their dreams They stepped ’n fetched a country And wrote the blues in screams. I understand their meaning, It could an did derive From living on the edge of death They kept my race alive By wearing the mask! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

[@cohibanight2476]

Thats My People, Thats Love

[@Charrisnemtblueprint]

Thank you for sharing each beautiful word of this poem❤

[@rubberbiscuit99]

Thank you for putting these words up. ❤️

[@denisedenisehuxtable4183]

Extraordinary Thank you

[@thebahamiancooknook7065]

Thank you

[@C.kirk1287]

I still can’t understand how God created a woman to be so effortlessly beautifully brilliant ❤

[@mellishaclayton3291]

She's amazing simply amazing

[@cindyibrahim7005]

In order to keep a person down, you got to be there with them...

[@linnetmbotto7212]

Cindy Ibrahim it is the other way around

[@81298]

Cindy Ibrahim love it ! Right on que

[@eileenmacdougall8945]

Wow Cindy. You have words too !

[@elenafoleyfoley168]

What a privilege to have had this QUEEN 👑 in the world 🌍 Your words will live on in our hearts 💙💚🧡 forever Maya Angelou 🙏🏻👼🏽🙏🏻

[@soozshooz]

“ The Truth is, No Human Being can be MORE Human than another Human Being.” Maya Angelou~ So simple, yet so profound. 🤯 Bring Peace where ever you go. ❤️🙏🏼

[@kailyn373]

MAYA ANGELOU you were a fantastic phenominal woman words cannot describe how your words brings me joy love you loads RIP lovely lady

[@Redefine7]

She is one of my favorites!!! So much power

[@grandmaproctor51]

I miss this Golden lady. A library of Loving knowledge & emotions. This Queen was truly Love ❤️

[@BorntomotivateFilms]

I'm so choked up after watching this........nothing is a mistake.....nothing is happenstance.....Like Maya Angelou said, We are ALL Human. I'm so glad I am in the world while Maya Angelou existed in this world. Her residue still heals, still strengthens.....Now that's ever lasting POWER! -Monea' aka BorntomotivateFILM

[@mainestategop]

RIP 1928-2014 You will be missed... And I can imagine she's already got 1000 sonnets made out while she's up there that are even better.

[@Tiffanysmith339]

Wow...tell me about it...

[@kisspencer]

Hearing her voice always bring joy to my heart!!!!

[@sisibelflores9489]

Phenomenal Dr. Maya Angelou 🌷💚🦅☕ I smile Rest in peace 🙏💙 Psalm 23

[@p.w.7493]

They laughed, indeed, to 'cover' the mask! TEACH us, oh wise one!!💕🌹

[@msbuyi1]

OHH Maya may your beautiful soul rest in peace. I love you

[@jennyjustina502]

R.I.P Gone but not forgotten. You were a gem.

[@donnadaisy333]

This woman damned near always brings me to tears. What a phenomenal woman. May God bless her for all eternity. 🙏

[@krhervey441]

Yes, this is why I love to listen to Maya Angelou. Her wisdom and life experiences teaches if people just listen. I love the people I come from and that's love. No human can be no human than another human being.

[@cinnamonslice1990]

"We wear the mask"😢😢😭 What an extraordinary woman she was.. She was a blessing.. But oh what pearls of wisdom she left behind..🔥💎💯💕

[@ellenvickers5139]

Maya Angelou is such a beautiful woman who if you read about her you would be suprised what she was and what GOD made her to be...Love HER

[@KingD-light]

She is so phenomenal, thank you Grandma Maya for all you've done Rest in power 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@carlallen9803]

66 year old MEN can cry?? I am guilty!! RIP DR,MAYA ANGELOU! NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.

[@belovebless2018]

“In order to bring a person down you gotta be right there with them” I love her😩❤️

[@yoliswamiya6392]

I cry how l long to write my poems with rich words like my hero here speaking from the heart , Oh Wear the musk😢

[@jasminespring7039]

I love this spiritual lifting 🥰😍😍

[@1230jazzie4560]

This poem never fail to make my tear up.

[@Winner2016-e9b]

"I liberate you from my ignorance" RIP Dr Maya Angelou

[@YvonneRickman]

THE LADY SIMPLY STUNS "MY SOUL"!

[@crystalharris-thomas1939]

Her words were/ are water to our spirit. RIP ❤❤❤ wake up Black Americans!

[@marthahill9290]

She said to take peace with you! !!

[@debrataylor8745]

I Thank You May a Angelos, for the many years of expressed feelings,and poetic thoughts you shared with me and throughout your life time. You will need error be forgotten. ... R.I.P. LOVE DEBRA.2015

[@Hispoet]

This gave me chills....She is timeless...her gift is timeless..only jealousy and foolish pride keeps one from truly understanding what she is relating...

[@enrip4017]

I never tire of watching this video. Beautiful And truthful

[@51tomtomtom]

Thx from "pale" guy from other side of the ocean, you nailed it and brought me to tears in the middle of some laughter , a blues'er since he was 15 , having had so many blue's , dark blue in (the eyes of my dying mother), light blue (in the eyes of my kids ) like the sky on a clear day's morning ......

[@mysticmogwai8184]

Ms. Angelou, you will never know how valuable your life has been to so many people. I love you so much so very much💖

[@artisticwhistleblower1756]

She was and will always be the ultimate inspiration!!!

[@emmaj4387]

I am crying. I read her books in middle School but I'm older now and have such a different outlook and appreciation for her

[@JorgePrietoNYC]

Words of wisdom. Thank you, for your words, Dr. Angelou. You inspire me as the writer in progress, that I am.

[@tasha5557]

Her spirit is so beautiful. She is so inspiring. Her views of life is so gorgeous. Thank you, God for giving us an angel.

[@poem]

💕 nice video, thanks for sharing keep up the good work 👍

[@dailysip6607]

“I laugh so hard I start to crying 😢 “..” when I think about myself “ I’m only 17 and I knowsss . I laugh to numb away the pain and trauma

[@BrianaKimberlyy]

Such a humble woman. I could only hope to be as beautiful a person as she is. Made me cry. I wish more 13 years olds like myself would appreciate this wonderful woman. She speaks to me through everything I do.

[@BeverlyDillon2]

One of my favorite poems

[@d3a1990]

Such grace and class. Forever an inspiration.

[@sparx550]

She just makes me smile.

[@mynewyork165]

4:30 I love this woman! So true!

[@lydiamideva6776]

Mama thank you for leaving something for us to look to ...rest with angels maya

[@ministersonyakylegodsreali2903]

This piece was SOUL STIRRING!!! #RealityPoet💕👑

[@jasminerjon]

Her delivery was everything. With so much compassion, heart filled emotion and laughter, she recited this poem. So, so powerful!

[@thandoreviews8886]

I like how Ma immediately said “It’s love, not sentimentality.” As I was almost going to respond with tears, then I stopped myself thinking, it was an experience. I cannot feel shame or sadness for her experience. I can appreciate it, and as Ma states, it was her expression of love.

[@matthewnall]

Mr favorite part - "Just decide, 'I'm going to take peace with me, i'm not gonna wait till I get there to make it'"@5:15

[@roxannesumners5039]

Matthew Nall Yes! I started listening to Adyashanti & he says same. So good to remember...

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍Love her. I’m blessed that I had the pleasure to meet her. 💞

[@MsMoem]

Such a powerful poem.

[@geraldjohnson848]

April 4: Happy birthday Writer, poet, educator Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) Thank you and God bless. RIP....Thanks fro the upload, Russell Jones. Blessings

[@wingsofspirit6392]

Though this has been our plight I guarantee that not everyone can be us. And I'm sure that others thinks that about themselves and their own people. But we wear the struggle of a people who will always fight against the odds and we will stand to the very end of our individual lives. I am proud of my life and my people's legacy. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Thank you Maya Angelou for this beautiful and thought provoking poem on many levels of "the struggle". Rest In Peace. ❤️

[@jasminekaltenbach2316]

it's crazy how incredible she is. To see something most people would mock or forget about and pull out the thing that is so beautiful and so profound . . . there is no one like her

[@dnmillernintythree9988]

Now she is an a human jewel..so devine that voice, brings a tear into my eyes. beautiful

[@jcextranow]

So much sincerity in her voice. The depth in her voice is magnificent. Truly a voice of the people. The human people, the human race. Her race was won. God Bless.

[@scherrygrace9736]

OH YOU BEAUTIFUL LADY...HOW U TOUCH MY HEART....

[@gomolemomorake2371]

I really wish i had the opportunity to meet this phenomenal woman in person, my heart is so sore that such glorious, impactful and insightful influence has vanished from the face of the earth i will play her videos and read her poems for my children and pass on the liberation that she had brought forward in her gift of words.

[@rubberbiscuit99]

I am so grateful this was in my feed today.

[@adampope6646]

One of a kind

[@mizkelo7348]

This poem still has the ability to break me. I cry every time and that is because I can feel every word. You are so deeply missed Maya

[@carynbuys4889]

No human being can be more human than another human being! I liberate you from my ignorance... love this woman's level of intellect. One of a kind... Born naturally devine! Big ups to you mama 💪❤👍strong love!!!

[@bubbliiimeech422]

Wearing the mask is comes so natural.. Awesome poem

[@lashundabyrd4330]

Oh how I admire this beautiful soul. Class act is an understatement.

[@oldschoollady1]

Beautifully moving - Maya and Langston - Praise God!

[@ofentsemodise2111]

I LOVE THIS WOMAN

[@stacyheisler9731]

Maya was and still is in my opinion such a gifted speaker and poet!! Her rhymes will go down in history and continue to inspire and touch the lives of many! You cannot sit and listen to her words and not be inspired!! Her voice and words, delivered with such power!! I hope you know just how bright you shined in life, Shedding your great light with every word you spoke!! A beautiful spirit indeed!! Thank-you , for all that you shared!! AND ABOVE ALL, PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS WHITE WOMAN WOULD HAVE CONSIDERED IT A GREAT HONOUR TO HAVE BEEN IN YOUR PRESENCE! RIP!!

[@romamohammed1317]

Thank you great Lady 🙏💖

[@LagiSeru]

Wow ...simply Wow !! At that age ..she still can memorize the poem !! She has been inspirational !! #RIPMayaAngelou

[@williewilson1842]

My GOD.......I LOVED HER THEN I LOVE HER NOW AND WILL LOVE HER ALWAYS..Had the whole world listen to all the messages I believe we would all have been more understanding to one another

[@willowclay3137]

Another beautiful soul!

[@patriciahenderson6598]

I will always love this woman. .Her words. ....

[@LifePusher]

thanks for posting this I was looking for it