Oprah: TODAY ON "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY,"
4 MY CONVERSATION CONTINUES
5 WITH MY GREATEST SPIRITUAL TEACHER.
6 THAT WAS LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME.
7 YES, DARLING.
8 THE LEGENDARY AUTHOR, THINKER, POET,
9 AND MY PERSONAL MENTOR, DR. MAYA ANGELOU.
10 I HAVE TO SAY, I DON'T BELIEVE ANYBODY ON EARTH
11 HAS TAUGHT ME MORE THAN MAYA ANGELOU.
12 I WAS CRYING HYSTERICALLY,
13 AND YOU SAID, "STOP IT, RIGHT NOW."
14 TODAY, SHE'S BACK WITH EVEN MORE OF HER WISDOM.
15 WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
16 THE BEST PCE OF ADVICE YOU'VE GIVEN?
17 HMM.
18 SHE REVEALS HOW HER TOUGH
19 BUT TENDERHEARTED MOTHER
20 TRANSFORMED HER LIFE.
21 EVEN AT 16, WHEN YOU BECAME PREGNANT,
22 SHE DID NOT SHAME YOU. NOT AT ALL.
23 AND I GOT TO SAY THIS
24 NOBODY HAS BETTER INSIGHT AND PERSPECTIVE
25 ABOUT AGING BRILLIANTLY.
26 WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE 80s?
27 IS IT STILL HOT? OH, MY GOODNESS.
28 DO IT, IF YOU CAN.
29 [ LAUGHS ]
30 PLUS, THE AHA MOMENT THAT MOVES MAYA TO TEARS.
31 IT STILL HUMBLES ME,
32 AND I'M AMAZED AT IT.
33 GET READY FOR LIFE LESSONS
34 AND TO BE INSPIRED
35 AS ONLY MAYA ANGELOU CAN DELIVER.
36 [ LAUGHS ] THANK GOD FOR THIS.
37 THAT'S A TWEET.
38 PART 2 OF MY HEART-TO-HEART CONVERSATION
39 WITH THE PHENOMENAL MAYA ANGELOU
40 STARTS NOW.
41 Oprah: I WANTED A PLACE FOR PEOPLE
42 TO GO EVERY SUNDAY TO WAKE UP.
43 THOUGHT-PROVOKING...
44 OH, YOU COULDN'T HAVE SAID THAT BETTER.
45 ...EYE-OPENING, AND INSPIRING.
46 THIS IS MY FAVORITE THING TO TALK ABOUT.
47 THIS WILL LIFT YOU RIGHT ON UP.
48 IT'S FOOD FOR YOUR SOUL.
49 EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY.
50 THIS IS "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY."
51 52 LAST TIME, MAYA ANGELOU AND I REMINISCED ABOUT
53 SOME OF THE MOST MEANINGFUL MOMENTS
54 OF HER EXTRAORDINARY JOURNEY.
55 WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU'VE HAD A LIFE FILLED WITH PIZZAZZ?
56 YES, I HAVE.
57 TALK ABOUT PIZZAZZ.
58 WE MARVELED AT MAYA
59 IN THIS 1957 CALYPSO SHOWSTOPPER.
60 61 MY LORD. [ LAUGHS ]
62 AND SHE GAVE US NEW INSIGHT INTO
63 BOUNDLESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN HER REMARKABLE LIFE.
64 WHAT WERE YOU THINKING WHEN
65 THE PRESIDENT PLACED THAT MEDAL AROUND YOUR NECK?
66 I WAS SO FILLED THAT,
67 WHEN I WAS TAKEN OUT OF THAT ROOM,
68 I SOBBED IN GRATITUDE.
69 SHE ALSO SPOKE CANDIDLY AND LOVINGLY
70 ABOUT HER MOTHER, VIVIAN BAXTER,
71 A CHARISMATIC, FIERCE, DYNAMO OF A WOMAN.
72 [ LAUGHS ]
73 I WOULDN'T MESS WITH VIVIAN BAXTER.
74 NO, NEVER. YOU DO NOT MESS WITH HER.
75 NEVER.
76 THEIR DEEP SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
77 IS THE CATALYST FOR MAYA'S LATEST BOOK.
78 IT'S CALLED "MOM & ME & MOM."
79 AT 85, MAYA ANGELOU IS NOW A GREAT GRANDMOTHER
80 AND IS STILL TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM.
81 IN ADDITION TO HER WRITING
82 AND FULL SCHEDULE OF SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS,
83 SHE REMAINS EVER RELEVANT, HIP, AND UP-TO-DATE
84 WITH HER ACTIVE AND ENLIGHTENING PRESENCE ON TWITTER.
85 I'M ONE OF LEGIONS OF READERS WHO LOOK TO MAYA ANGELOU
86 FOR COMFORTING WORDS, FOR COURAGE.
87 WE SOAK UP HER WISDOM, WE MARVEL AT HER STAMINA,
88 AND BASK IN THE PURE, CONTAGIOUS JOY
89 SHE TAKES IN LIVING.
90 Angelou: 82 IS HOT.
91 82 IS FABULOUS.
92 I THOUGHT THAT THE 60s WERE GOOD.
93 I THOUGHT THE 60s WERE THE HOTTEST EVER,
94 AND THEN I GOT INTO THE 70s.
95 WHAT?
96 WHAT?
97 I LOVED THE 70s.
98 AND I THOUGHT, "WELL, THE 80s IS GONNA BE SLOWING DOWN."
99 NOT.
100 I'M WRITING MUSIC.
101 I'M WRITING, I'M WORKING,
102 AND I'M TALKING TO YOU.
103 OH, YES, 80s TRY TO MAKE IT.
104 TRY TO MAKE IT TO 80.
105 [ LAUGHING ] IT'S TRUE.
106 IT'S TRUE? ABSOLUTELY.
107 NOW, AS WE SIT HERE, YOU'RE 85.
108 YES, MA'AM. YES, AS WE ARE 85.
109 WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE 80s?
110 IS IT STILL HOT? OH, MY GOODNESS.
111 DO IT IF YOU CAN. DO IT IF YOU CAN?
112 IF YOU HAVE A CHOICE, CHOOSE THE 80s.
113 OH, MY GOODNESS. I MEAN IT.
114 IF YOU'VE BEEN CARING FOR YOURSELF,
115 YOU KNOW, MODERATION IN ALL THINGS.
116 AND EVEN MODERATION IN MODERATION.
117 DON'T GET TOO MUCH MODERATION.
118 [ BOTH LAUGHING ]
119 THAT'S A TWEET.
120 "DON'T EVEN GET TOO MUCH MODERATION.
121 MODERATION IN MODERATION."
122 THAT'S RIGHT. YES.
123 BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO YOUR 80s,
124 AND YOU FIND THAT YOU'RE STILL LOOKING KIND OF ALL RIGHT,
125 AND PEOPLE STILL SAY, "HELLO, HELLO, HELLO."
126 [ BOTH LAUGH ]
127 YOU THINK, "MM, I'M GLAD I GOT THIS FAR."
128 YES.
129 IN THE MAY ISSUE OF "O"MAGAZINE,
130 WE TALK ABOUT AGING BRILLIANTLY.
131 TELL ME WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED YOURSELF ABOUT THE AGING.
132 YOU KNOW, BECAUSE I THINK I LEARNED THIS FROM YOU,
133 AND WHAT A WONDERFUL MENTOR YOU HAVE BEEN FOR ME
134 FOR AGING WITH GRACE
135 AND APPRECIATION AND HEART
136 AND JUST EMBRACING IT.
137 AND I SEE SO MANY WOMEN AROUND ME WHO
138 EVEN AS EARLY AS THEIR 40s, AND SOME EVEN IN THEIR 30s,
139 THEY'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BOTOX THEMSELVES,
140 AND YOU KNOW, CHANGE THEMSELVES, AND FIGHTING IT.
141 JUST FIGHTING IT, FIGHTING IT ALL THE WAY.
142 AND I ALWAYS LOOK AT IT AS, JUST AS YOU WERE SAYING,
143 "MY GOD, WHATEVER AGE,
144 I THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT."
145 I KNOW.
146 AS I SIT HERE AT 59, I THINK ABOUT
147 ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T MAKE IT TO 59.
148 AND SO, WERE YOU EVER ANXIOUS ABOUT IT?
149 WERE YOU EVER, "OH, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M TURNING 40.
150 I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M 50." I CAN'T REMEMBER
151 EVER BEING ANXIOUS ABOUT IT,
152 EVEN WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG.
153 I MEAN, I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO REACH THAT OTHER AGE.
154 MM-HMM. AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER.
155 I THOUGHT THAT, IF I COULD LIVE TO BE 20...
156 YES. ...YOU KNOW,
157 IT WAS GONNA BE REALLY WONDERFUL.
158 AND THEN 25.
159 AND THEN 30?
160 WHOO.
161 MY GOODNESS, I WAS JUST GONNA
162 IT WAS A KNOCKOUT.
163 EVERY AGE, I'VE BEEN GRATEFUL.
164 I TALKED TO YOU ABOUT THIS YEARS AGO.
165 YES. YES. IS BEING GRATEFUL.
166 GRATEFUL, JUST CONSTANTLY.
167 GET UP IN THE MORNING, "THANK YOU, LORD.
168 "THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY.
169 "THANK YOU FOR THE LIGHT COMING THROUGH THAT WINDOW,
170 THANK YOU.
171 "THANK YOU THAT I'M BREATHING.
172 "THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING.
173 "THANK YOU FOR THE PHONE CALL
174 "THAT TOLD ME THAT I HAD THE JOB.
175 "THANK YOU EVEN FOR THE PHONE CALL
176 THAT TOLD ME I'M NOT WANTED ANY MORE.
177 "THANK YOU, BECAUSE I KNOW YOU HAVE
178 SOMETHING BETTER FOR ME LINED UP."
179 YES, YEAH. "THANK YOU."
180 ONE OF MY LIFE SEMINAL MOMENTS,
181 I HAD THE FARM IN INDIANA.
182 YOU REMEMBER THE FARM. YES, I DO.
183 AND I WAS IN THE BATHROOM,
184 BECAUSE THERE WERE PEOPLE AT THE HOUSE,
185 AND I CLOSED THE DOOR,
186 AND I WAS SITTING ON THE TOILET SEAT.
187 AND ON THE BATHROOM PHONE CALLING YOU,
188 AND I WAS CRYING HYSTERICALLY ABOUT SOMETHING.
189 I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT IT WAS.
190 AND YOU SAID
191 YOU KNOW, I WAS CALLING FOR YOUR
192 OPEN, EMPATHETIC,
193 LOVING EMBRACE,
194 AND YOU SAID, "STOP IT."
195 THAT'S RIGHT. "STOP IT RIGHT NOW,
196 I WANT YOU TO SAY THANK YOU."
197 AND I WAS, LIKE, "BUT YOU DIDN'T HEAR ME.
198 YOU DIDN'T HEAR WHAT I SAID."
199 AND YOU SAID, "NO, I WANT SAY IT.
200 I WANT TO HEAR YOU SAY IT."
201 AND I WENT, "THANK YOU.
202 WHAT AM I SAYING THANK YOU FOR?"
203 AND YOU SAID, "BECAUSE YOU KNOW GOD HAS
204 PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS FOR YOU."
205 THAT'S IT. YEAH.
206 THAT WAS LIFE-CHANGING FOR ME.
207 YES, DARLING.
208 YES, DARLING.
209 SO, WHEN WHATEVER IT IS HITS...
210 "THANK YOU." ..."THANK YOU."
211 BECAUSE I KNOW SOMETHING BETTER
212 IS ON THE ROAD FOR ME,
213 SO, YOU FIRED ME? GOOD ON YOU.
214 AND VERY GOOD ON ME,
215 'CAUSE WHAT I'M GOING TO GET, DARLING, YOU WOULD LONG FOR.
216 [ LAUGHS ]
217 DARLING? YES, DARLING.
218 SO, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?
219 WHERE DID YOU KNOW THAT?
220 OUT FROM A LONG WAY, FROM MY GRANDMOTHER,
221 MY FATHER'S MOTHER, WHO RAISED ME,
222 AND FROM VIVIAN BAXTER.
223 MAYA DESCRIBES HER MOTHER, VIVIAN, AS A DYNAMIC WOMAN,
224 A SPITFIRE WITH A LARGER-THAN-LIFE PRESENCE,
225 BUT SHE WAS SOMEONE MAYA DIDN'T REALLY GET TO KNOW
226 UNTIL HER TEENS.
227 UNABLE TO RAISE TWO YOUNG CHILDREN ON HER OWN,
228 VIVIAN BAXTER HAD SENT MAYA AND HER BROTHER, BAILEY,
229 TO LIVE WITH THEIR GRANDMOTHER IN RURAL ARKANSAS.
230 WHEN MAYA TURNED 13, SHE REJOINED HER MOTHER
231 IN SAN FRANCISCO.
232 AND WHILE IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR THEM TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER,
233 IT WAS OBVIOUS THERE WAS A LOT OF LOVE
234 BETWEEN MAYA AND THE WOMAN SHE CALLED "LADY."
235 VIVIAN BAXTER, SHE
236 SHE LOVED ME. YES.
237 AND ENCOURAGED ME TO DEVELOP COURAGE.
238 IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA, WHERE SHE LIVED AND DIED,
239 THERE'S A PARK NAMED FOR HER
240 BECAUSE SHE WAS THAT KIND TO EVERYBODY
241 WHITES, BLACKS, SPANISH SPEAKING,
242 NATIVE AMERICAN, ASIAN.
243 SHE WAS THAT KIND.
244 AND SO, THE NEWEST PARK
245 IN STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA,
246 IS CALLED "LADY BAXTER PARK."
247 I LOVE THAT. I LOVE THAT.
248 AND SO, THAT'S ON ONE END OF TOWN,
249 AND A LIBRARY ON THE OTHER END OF TOWN
250 IS THE MAYA ANGELOU. MM.
251 IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE
252 THE LIBRARY WAS NAMED FOR ME
253 BECAUSE OF VIVIAN BAXTER.
254 YOUR MOTHER PAVED THAT WAY.
255 THAT'S RIGHT. SHE PAVED THAT WAY,
256 WHICH WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LAST WEEK.
257 EVERY TIME I DARE TO DO A GOOD THING,
258 I'M DOING IT IN THE NAME OF MY MOTHER.
259 COMING UP, MAYA SAYS IF YOU NEED HEALING,
260 THERE'S ONE THING THAT'S GUARANTEED TO HELP.
261 LOVE DOES THAT. LOVE DOES THAT.
262 LOVE LIBERATES.
263 AND THE TURNING POINT THAT GAVE MAYA
264 WHAT SHE CALLS THE MOST IMPORTANT VIRTUE
265 COURAGE.
266 SHE NEVER, EVER MADE ME FEEL THAT
267 I HAD DONE THE WRONG THING.
268 I KNOW, AND EVEN AT 16, WHEN YOU BECAME PREGNANT,
269 SHE DID NOT SHAME YOU. NOT AT ALL.
270 "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
271 272 273 274 Oprah: IN HER LATEST MEMOIR, MAYA ANGELOU SAYS
275 THE LESSONS FROM HER MOTHER, VIVIAN BAXTER,
276 ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN HER MEMORY
277 LIKE TECHNICOLOR STARS IN A MIDNIGHT SKY.
278 Angelou: "MY MOTHER'S GIFTS OF COURAGE TO ME
279 "WERE BOTH LARGE AND SMALL.
280 "THE LATTER ARE WOVEN SO SUBTLY
281 "INTO THE FABRIC OF MY PSYCHE,
282 "THAT I CAN HARDLY DISTINGUISH
283 WHERE SHE STOPS AND I BEGIN."
284 YOU SAY THAT THIS BOOK HAS BEEN WRITTEN
285 TO EXAMINE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT LOVE HEALS
286 AND HELPS A PERSON TO CLIMB TO IMPOSSIBLE HEIGHTS
287 AND RISE FROM IMMEASURABLY DEPTHS.
288 THAT'S TRUE. YES.
289 THAT'S TRUE.
290 LOVE DOES THAT. LOVE DOES THAT.
291 LOVE LIBERATES.
292 AND LOVE FROM A PARENT
293 AND I MEAN FROM A MOTHER OR A FATHER
294 LOVE.
295 NOT SENTIMENTALITY, NOT MUSH,
296 BUT TRUE LOVE.
297 LOVE THAT GIVES YOU ENOUGH COURAGE
298 THAT YOU CAN SAY TO SOMEBODY, "DON'T DO THAT, BABY,"
299 AND THE PERSON WILL KNOW
300 YOU'RE NOT PREACHING, YOU'RE TEACHING.
301 YES.
302 Oprah: MAYA ANGELOU DEVELOPED
303 AN EVEN DEEPER CONNECTION TO HER MOTHER
304 WHEN SHE BECAME PREGNANT AT 16.
305 SHE CALLS THE BIRTH OF HER ONLY CHILD, HER SON, GUY,
306 THE GREATEST BLESSING OF HER LIFE.
307 WHEN MAYA TOLD VIVIAN BAXTER SHE WAS GONNA HAVE A BABY,
308 HER MOTHER DIDN'T GET ANGRY.
309 INSTEAD, SHE WELCOMED THE BABY BOY INTO THEIR LIVES,
310 EVEN GUIDING THE YOUNG MOTHER AS SHE STRUCK OUT ON HER OWN.
311 WHEN GUY WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD,
312 YOU MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE,
313 AND I LOVE THE STORY ABOUT WHAT YOUR MOTHER
314 SAID TO YOU AS YOU WERE LEAVING.
315 SHE SAYS, "ALL RIGHT, YOU GO, BUT REMEMBER THIS.
316 "WHEN YOU CROSS MY DOORSTEP, YOU HAVE ALREADY BEEN RAISED
317 "WITH WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM YOUR GRANDMOTHER IN ARKANSAS
318 "AND WHAT YOU'VE LEARNED FROM ME.
319 "YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG.
320 "DO RIGHT, AND DON'T LET ANYBODY RAISE YOU
321 "FROM THE WAY YOU'VE BEEN RAISED.
322 "KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS
323 "IN LOVE RELATIONSHIPS, IN FRIENDS,
324 "IN SOCIETY AND WORK,
325 "BUT DON'T LET ANYBODY CHANGE YOUR MIND.
326 "AND THEN REMEMBER THIS
327 YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME."
328 SHE DID. OH!
329 SHE DID, AND SHE WHENEVER I'D GO HOME,
330 THE WORLD WOULD THROW ME FLAT ON MY FACE
331 WITH THIS LITTLE BABY I'M TRYING TO RAISE
332 AND WORK AND SING SONGS AND DANCE.
333 AND I WOULD GO HOME TO VIVIAN BAXTER.
334 SHE WOULD ACT AS IF THE BEST THING HAS EVER HAPPENED.
335 SHE'D CALL HER FRIENDS, "GIRL, YOU CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
336 "THE BABY IS HOME. I'M GONNA COOK THIS FOR HER.
337 "SHE LOVES SPANISH RICE. I'M GONNA COOK THAT FOR HER.
338 "LISTEN, DON'T TRY TO COME OVER.
339 "I'M GONNA HAVE HER TO MYSELF
340 "FOR AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR HOURS,
341 THEN YOU CAN COME OVER."
342 SHE NEVER, EVER MADE ME FEEL THAT
343 I HAD DONE THE WRONG THING.
344 I KNOW, AND EVEN AT 16, WHEN YOU BECAME PREGNANT,
345 SHE DID NOT SHAME YOU. NOT AT ALL.
346 SHE SAID, "WE'RE GONNA HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL BABY."
347 THAT'S RIGHT, AND SHE ASKED ME.
348 SHE SAID, "DO YOU KNOW WHO THE FATHER IS?"
349 I SAID, "YES.
350 "I ONLY HAD SEX WITH HIM ONE TIME,
351 BUT, THEN, HE'S THE ONLY ONE."
352 SHE SAID, "ALL RIGHT. DO YOU LOVE HIM?" I SAID, "NO."
353 SHE ASKED ME, "DOES HE LOVE YOU?" I SAID, "NO."
354 SHE SAID, "WE'RE NOT GONNA RUIN THREE LIVES.
355 WE'RE GONNA HAVE A BEAUTIFUL BABY."
356 WOW. YES, SHE DID.
357 AND SHE LOVED MY SON.
358 YES.
359 SHE WAS A KNOCKOUT, VIVIAN BAXTER.
360 SHE WAS A KNOCKOUT.
361 TELL ME THIS.
362 YOU'VE BEEN MY GREATEST TEACHER.
363 WHO'S BEEN YOUR GREATEST TEACHERS?
364 PROBABLY MY GRANDMOTHER AND MY MOTHER.
365 REALLY? MM-HMM.
366 YOUR GREATEST TEACHERS? MY GREATEST TEACHERS.
367 I WATCHED GRANDMOTHER HENDERSON,
368 AND I WATCHED VIVIAN BAXTER.
369 VIVIAN BAXTER WITH THIS INCREDIBLE ANGER
370 WHENEVER ANYBODY TRIED TO DO HER DOWN.
371 THIS SAME WOMAN WAS SO KIND, I NEVER IN MY LIFE
372 SHE WAS VERY PRETTY.
373 SHE NEVER LAUGHED AT ANYBODY.
374 EVER.
375 I LIKED THAT IN HER. UH-HUH.
376 BECAUSE SHE HAD EVERYTHING.
377 SHE HAD MONEY, SHE HAD BEAUTY, AND HEALTH,
378 AND SHE NEVER LAUGHED AT ANYBODY.
379 AND YOU DIDN'T THINK OF YOURSELF AS A PRETTY GIRL.
380 OH, NO. I WASN'T A PRETTY GIRL.
381 THERE WERE PRETTY GIRLS WHO HAD
382 LONG HAIR AND FAIR SKIN AND THAT.
383 AND I WAS SO TALL.
384 I WAS 6' AT 15.
385 SO, HOW DID YOU LEARN TO LOVE YOURSELF AT THAT TIME?
386 WELL, BAILEY LOVED ME,
387 MY GRANDMOTHER LOVED ME,
388 AND MY MOTHER LOVED ME.
389 BECAUSE ANOTHER BOOK THAT YOU WROTE, THERE'S A POEM,
390 "NOBODY MAKES IT ALONE."
391 NOBODY, BUT NOBODY, MAKES IT ALONE.
392 NOBODY MAKES IT NOBODY MAKES IT ALONE,
393 AND EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY.
394 AND THAT'S HOW LOVE HEALS.
395 THE LOVE OF THE FAMILY,
396 THE LOVE OF ONE PERSON, CAN HEAL,
397 SO, IT HEALS THE SCARS LEFT
398 OR WOUNDS LEFT BY A LARGER SOCIETY,
399 A MASSIVE, POWERFUL SOCIETY.
400 401 COMING UP, THE MOMENT THAT CHANGED MAYA'S LIFE.
402 IT STILL HUMBLES ME,
403 AND I'M AMAZED AT IT.
404 AND GRATEFUL FOR IT.
405 SUPER SOULERS, I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT
406 THE GREATEST TEACHERS IN YOUR LIVES
407 AND THE LESSONS THAT INSPIRED YOU.
408 TWEET ME USING 23LoveMaya.
409 OR POST ON FACEBOOK.
410 411 THERE'S AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN SONG, 19th CENTURY,
412 WHICH IS SO GREAT.
413 IT SAYS...
414 ♪ ♪ WHEN IT LOOKED LIKE THE SUN ♪ ♪
415 ♪ ♪ WASN'T GONNA SHINE ANYMORE ♪ ♪
416 ♪ ♪ GOD PUT A RAINBOW IN THE CLOUDS ♪ ♪
417 IMAGINE.
418 AND I'VE HAD SO MANY RAINBOWS IN MY CLOUDS.
419 I HAD A LOT OF CLOUDS.
420 BUT I HAVE HAD SO MANY RAINBOWS.
421 AND THE THING TO DO, IT SEEMS TO ME,
422 IS TO PREPARE YOURSELF SO THAT YOU CAN
423 BE A RAINBOW IN SOMEBODY ELSE'S CLOUD.
424 SOMEBODY WHO MAY NOT LOOK LIKE YOU,
425 MAY NOT CALL GOD THE SAME NAME YOU CALL GOD,
426 IF THEY CALL GOD AT ALL.
427 YOU SEE?
428 AND MAY NOT EAT THE SAME DISHES PREPARED THE WAY YOU DO,
429 MAY NOT DANCE YOUR DANCES,
430 OR SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE.
431 BUT BE A BLESSING TO SOMEBODY.
432 THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
433 434 Angelou: "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
435 436 Angelou: WHAT REALLY MATTERS NOW
437 IS LOVE.
438 I MEAN, THAT CONDITION IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT
439 SO PROFOUND
440 THAT IT ALLOWS US TO RISE.
441 STRENGTH, LOVE,
442 COURAGE, LOVE,
443 KINDNESS, LOVE.
444 THAT IS REALLY WHAT MATTERS.
445 THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN EVIL,
446 AND THERE WILL ALWAYS BEEN EVIL,
447 BUT THERE HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD,
448 AND THERE IS GOOD NOW.
449 YOU SAY WORDS ARE THINGS,
450 AND THAT THEY'RE SO POWERFUL.
451 SO, WHAT WORDS DO YOU TURN TO FOR COMFORT?
452 LOVE.
453 AND, AGAIN, SEE, I DON'T MEAN
454 I THINK I THINK LOVE IS
455 THAT CONDITION IN THE HUMAN SPIRIT
456 SO PROFOUND...
457 THAT IT ALLOWS US TO FORGIVE. MM-HMM.
458 AND IT MAY BE THE ENERGY
459 WHICH KEEPS THE STARS IN THE FIRMAMENT.
460 YES. I'M NOT SURE.
461 IT MAY BE THE ENERGY WHICH KEEPS
462 THE BLOOD RUNNING SMOOTHLY THROUGH OUR VEINS.
463 I'M NOT SURE.
464 BUT IT'S SOMETHING BEYOND THE EXPLANATION.
465 IT CAN BE USED FOR ANYTHING YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN,
466 ANY GOOD THING YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN.
467 ABSOLUTELY.
468 YES, MA'AM.
469 WHERE DO YOU GO FOR SOLACE, FOR COMFORT?
470 ARE THERE BOOKS THAT YOU READ?
471 WHEN MAYA ANGELOU NEEDS COMFORTING,
472 WHAT DO YOU USE?
473 I'M A STUDENT OF UNITY,
474 AND THERE'S A BOOK CALLED
475 THE UNITY CHURCH? UNITY CHURCH.
476 Oprah: MAYA FIRST DISCOVERED THE UNITY CHURCH IN HER 20s
477 AFTER HER VOICE COACH AND MENTOR, FRED WILKERSON,
478 INVITED HER TO A SERVICE THERE.
479 FOUNDED IN 1889, UNITY IS A CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT
480 THAT EMPHASIZES AFFIRMATIVE PRAYER AND EDUCATION
481 AS A PATH TO SPIRITUALITY.
482 I TOOK A COURSE IN UNITY ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ONLINE.
483 NOT TO BECOME A MEMBER OR MINISTER,
484 BUT JUST TO UNDERSTAND MORE DEEPLY.
485 THERE'S A BOOK CALLED "LESSONS IN TRUTH."
486 WOW. AND IN THE BOOK,
487 THERE'S A LINE WHICH IS, "GOD LOVES ME."
488 AND WHEN I CAME TO READ IT TO MY THEN-MENTOR,
489 FREDERICK WILKERSON,
490 THE LATE FREDERICK WILKERSON,
491 I READ, "GOD LOVES ME."
492 AND HE SAID, "READ IT AGAIN."
493 I SAID, "GOD LOVES ME."
494 HE SAID, "READ IT AGAIN." MM.
495 "READ IT AGAIN."
496 AND FINALLY, I SAID, "GOD...LOVES...ME."
497 [ SIGHS ]
498 499 IT STILL HUMBLES ME,
500 THAT THIS FORCE WHICH MADE
501 LEAVES AND FLEAS AND STARS
502 AND RIVERS AND YOU
503 LOVES ME.
504 ME, MAYA ANGELOU.
505 IT'S AMAZING!
506 I CAN DO ANYTHING AND DO IT WELL.
507 ANY GOOD THING, I CAN DO IT.
508 THAT'S WHY I AM WHO I AM. YES.
509 BECAUSE GOD LOVES ME, AND I'M AMAZED AT IT!
510 AND GRATEFUL FOR IT.
511 512 DO YOU FEEL CARRIED BY THE ANCESTORS AS I DO?
513 DO YOU FEEL CARRIED BY THEM? ABSOLUTELY.
514 WHEN YOU SAID, WHEN WE TALKED LAST WEEK ABOUT,
515 "YOUR CROWN HAS BEEN PAID FOR.
516 PUT IT ON YOUR HEAD AND WEAR IT."
517 YES. YEAH.
518 DO YOU FEEL
519 DO YOU FEEL THAT YOUR GRANDMOTHER
520 AND HER MOTHER BEFORE HER. YES, AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
521 AND GREAT GRANDMOTHER.
522 WHO HAD BEEN BORN A SLAVE. BEEN BORN A SLAVE.
523 DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE CARRIED BY THAT?
524 ABSOLUTELY, AND I'M RESPONSIBLE TO THEM.
525 MAYA HAS SPOKEN OFTEN ABOUT THAT RESPONSIBILITY.
526 LISTEN TO THIS FROM 2003.
527 IMAGINE IT. JUST IMAGINE.
528 ANY OF US, IF WE COULD REALLY THINK OF
529 OUR GREAT GRANDFATHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS,
530 AND IF PUT THEM RIGHT IN FRONT OF US TODAY
531 AND SAY, "HERE YOU ARE.
532 "ARE YOU PLEASED WITH WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY LIFE?
533 "AM I MAKING YOU PROUD?
534 AM I DOING ALL YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE DOING?"
535 BECAUSE A PERSON COULD SAY,
536 "YOU'RE THE REASON I CAME OVER HERE ON THAT BOAT.
537 YOU'RE THE REASON I STOOD ON THE AUCTION BLOCK.
538 YOU'RE THE R I STUCK IT SO THAT YOU COULD EXIST."
539 540 SUDDENLY, LIFE ITSELF IS RICHER.
541 SO, WHEREVER I AM,
542 I STAND ON THE STAGE IN FRONT OF 10,000 PEOPLE,
543 MY GREAT GRANDMOTHER STANDS THERE WITH ME.
544 MM-HMM.
545 THAT'S THE LINE IN THE POEM, "GRANDMOTHERS,"
546 THAT YOU WROTE ONE OF MY FAVORITES.
547 I COME AS ONE,
548 "I STAND AS TEN THOUSAND." "I STAND AS TEN THOUSAND."
549 OH, MY GOSH.
550 I USE THAT LINE FOR MYSELF INTERNALLY
551 ON MANY AN OCCASION.
552 YES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHO YOU ARE.
553 I'VE RECITED THAT TO MYSELF MANY TIMES.
554 "I COME AS ONE, BUT I STAND AS TEN THOUSAND."
555 THAT'S IT. YEAH.
556 YOU GIRL.
557 THE FORCE OF THAT. THAT'S IT.
558 YES, MA'AM. THE FORCE OF THAT.
559 TO KNOW THAT NONE OF US ARE ALONE.
560 NO, EVER.
561 'CAUSE YOU'VE BEEN PAID FOR!
562 ALREADY.
563 ALREADY. THANK THE LORD.
564 [ LAUGHS ]
565 COMING UP, WE ALL KNOW SHE'S FULL OF LIFE LESSONS,
566 BUT WHICH ONE IS MAYA ANGELOU'S FAVORITE?
567 EVERYBODY WHO QUOTES YOU, AND I QUOTE YOU,
568 AND THEN THEY QUOTE ME THROUGH YOU AND ALL.
569 WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
570 THE BEST PCE OF ADVICE YOU'VE GIVEN?
571 WELL, HMM.
572 HMM.
573 MAYA'S ANSWER
574 WHEN "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" RETURNS.
575 PLUS, WHAT YOU, OUR SUPER SOULERS,
576 WANT TO SAY TO MAYA ANGELOU.
577 WE'LL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
578 579 580 Oprah: YOU KNOW, I LOVED SHARING MAYA'S WISDOM
581 ON THE "OPRAH" SHOW OVER ALL THESE YEARS,
582 AND OF ALL THE LESSONS I'VE LEARNED IN MY LIFE,
583 THIS ONE'S AT THE VERY TOP OF MY "MAYA LIST."
584 WHEN PEOPLE SHOW YOU WHO THEY ARE,
585 BELIEVE THEM. Angelou: YES.
586 ABSOLUTELY.
587 A PERSON SAYS TO YOU,
588 "I'M SELFISH,"
589 OR, "I'M MEAN,"
590 OR, "I AM UNKIND."
591 OR, "I'M CRAZY."
592 BELIEVE THEM THEY KNOW THEMSELVES
593 MUCH BETTER THAN YOU DO. MM-HMM.
594 IN 2000, WHEN YOU WERE 72,
595 I INTERVIEWED YOU FOR THE MAGAZINE,
596 AND I ASKED YOU IF YOU CONSIDERED YOURSELF WISE,
597 AND AT THE TIME, YOU ANSWERED, "WELL, I'M EN ROUTE."
598 THAT'S TRUE.
599 AND HOW WOULD YOU ANSWER THAT NOW?
600 I'M EN ROUTE. YOU'RE STILL EN ROUTE?
601 I'M FURTHER ALONG THAN I WAS.
602 [ BOTH LAUGH ]
603 BUT I'M STILL EN ROUTE.
604 MM-HMM.
605 I DON'T KNOW WHEN I KNOW ENOUGH.
606 I KNOW I KNOW A LOT,
607 AND I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
608 I KNOW ENOUGH TO TRY TO
609 TO LIVE WHAT I KNOW.
610 MM-HMM. NOW, THAT'S A LOT.
611 WHOA, THAT'S A LOT.
612 BUT I STILL DON'T HAVE IT ALL.
613 WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT YOU, MAYA ANGELOU
614 EVERYBODY WHO QUOTES YOU, AND I QUOTE YOU,
615 AND THEN THEY QUOTE ME THROUGH YOU AND ALL.
616 WHAT DO YOU THINK IS
617 THE BEST PCE OF ADVICE YOU'VE GIVEN?
618 WELL, HMM.
619 HMM.
620 WELL, I'M THINKING THAT
621 THE BEST ADVICE I'VE EVER GIVEN, I HOPE,
622 WAS THAT WHICH I GAVE TO MY SON
623 WHEN HE WAS GROWING UP.
624 HE SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS.
625 HOW CAN I GET SOME FRIENDS?"
626 AND ALTHOUGH I WAS VERY YOUNG,
627 I TOLD HIM TWO THINGS.
628 I TOLD HIM, IN ORDER TO GET A FRIEND,
629 YOU HAVE TO BE A FRIEND BE READY TO BE A FRIEND.
630 AND ALSO, I TOLD HIM,
631 THERE'S A PLACE IN YOU THAT YOU MUST KEEP INVIOLATE.
632 YOU MUST KEEP IT PRISTINE, CLEAN,
633 SO THAT NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO
634 CURSE YOU OR TREAT YOU BADLY.
635 NOBODY, NO MOTHER, FATHER, NO WIFE, NO HUSBAND, NOBODY,
636 BECAUSE THAT MAY BE THE PLACE YOU GO TO
637 WHEN YOU MEET GOD.
638 YOU HAVE TO HAVE A PLACE THAT YOU SAY,
639 "STOP IT, BACK UP."
640 NOT HERE, YOU WON'T. NOT NO.
641 ABSOLUTELY.
642 AND THAT'S ONE I TOLD YOU 25 YEARS AGO.
643 YES. SAY, "NO," WHEN IT'S NO.
644 YEAH. SAY SO. BACK IT UP.
645 BECAUSE THAT PLACE HAS TO REMAIN CLEAN AND CLEAR.
646 AND THAT HAS TO BE A PLACE WITHIN YOURSELF.
647 YES, MA'AM. YEAH.
648 THAT IS THE BEST ADVICE.
649 I KNOW EVERYBODY WHO'S WATCHING IS GONNA SAY,
650 "WHEN PEOPLE SHOW YOU WHO THEY ARE, BELIEVE THEM."
651 THAT'S ALSO VERY GOOD.
652 IT IS GOOD, NOW. YEAH.
653 BUT NOTHING TOPS HAVING THE PLACE INSIDE YOURSELF
654 THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS A RIGHT TO INVADE.
655 NO. YES.
656 AND WHEN THE PERSON COMES WITH RUDE LANGUAGE TO YOU,
657 OR INVASIVE LANGUAGE TO YOU,
658 YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SAY, "BACK UP.
659 "NOT ME, YOU DON'T.
660 DON'T YOU KNOW I'M A CHILD OF GOD?"
661 662 WHAT IS THE BEST PCE OF ADVICE YOU'VE EVER GOTTEN?
663 MM, SO MANY GOOD THINGS.
664 [ LAUGHS ] I KNOW. YEAH.
665 666 I GUESS THE GREATEST ADVICE IS TO FORGIVE.
667 I DON'T ANOINT IT WITH ANYTHING.
668 I JUST FORGIVE IT.
669 BUT DON'T WE FORGIVE
670 I'VE TRIED TO LET PEOPLE KNOW ON THE SHOW,
671 AS YOU HAVE TAUGHT ME OVER THE YEARS THAT,
672 WHEN YOU FORGIVE SOMEBODY, IT DOESN'T MEAN
673 YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN AND INVITE THEM TO YOUR TABLE.
674 OH, NO. NO, NO, NO, NO.
675 INDEED, NOT. MM-HMM.
676 I JUST MEAN, "I'M FINISHED WITH YOU."
677 "I'M DONE." "YOU CAN GO AWAY."
678 YES. YES, "YOU GO AWAY."
679 NOW, I DON'T I DON'T SAY GO AWAY AND HARM SOMEBODY ELSE,
680 BUT I DO HAVE TO PROTECT MYSELF.
681 I LOOK LIKE A NINNY IF I ASK SOMEBODY ELSE TO PROTECT ME,
682 AND I'M NOT WILLING TO PROTECT MYSELF.
683 YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THE GREAT LESSONS
684 THAT YOU'VE TAUGHT ME, TOO.
685 YOU'VE GOT TO BE WILLING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS FIRST.
686 YES, MA'AM. THEN YOU HAVE ENOUGH
687 TO GIVE TO OTHER PEOPLE. YES, MA'AM.
688 COMING UP, WE'RE GOING SOUL-TO-SOUL WITH MAYA ANGELOU.
689 DR. ANGELOU, WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF GOD?
690 OOH.
691 BUT FIRST, WE ASK YOU, OUR SUPER SOULERS,
692 HOW MAYA HAS TOUCHED YOUR LIVES,
693 AND HERE'S WHAT A FEW OF YOU HAD TO SAY.
694 Tiffaney: "I FELL IN LOVE WITH WORDS
695 "AFTER READING 'I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS,'
696 "AND FROM THAT MOMENT, I WAS INTRODUCED TO
697 MY BEST FRIEND...POETRY."
698 Christopher: "DR. ANGELOU, YOU SHOWED ME
699 "HOW CAPABLE I REALLY AM.
700 "THROUGH WELL-SPOKEN WORDS AND A FEARLESS LIFE,
701 "YOU TAUGHT ME POSSIBILITY.
702 YOU TAUGHT ME HOW TO DREAM."
703 Taryn: "YOU PUSHED ME TO BLAZE NEW PATHS FOR MYSELF
704 "AND CONSTANTLY CHALLENGE MY OWN LEVELS OF COMFORT.
705 "YOU MADE ME WANT TO TELL A STORY
706 "THE WAY THAT YOU DID.
707 YOU MADE ME WANT TO HAVE A STORY TO TELL, AND I DO."
708 Nola: "DEAR DR. MAYA ANGELOU,
709 "WE ARE ALL YOUR EXTENDED FAMILY,
710 "YOUR DAUGHTERS AND SONS,
711 "AND YOU, OUR GIFTED LITERARY MOTHER.
712 WITH PEACE AND BLESSINGS, NOLA."
713 Oprah: WHAT HAS MAYA MEANT TO YOU?
714 TWEET ME USING 23LoveMaya
715 OR POST ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.
716 "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.
717 718 719 DR. ANGELOU, WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF GOD?
720 OOH.
721 [ LAUGHS ] HMM.
722 ALL.
723 IF I COULD SAY
724 IF I WAS ASKED, SAY IT IN
725 YOUR DEFINITION OF GOD IN ONE WORD,
726 IT WOULD BE, "ALL."
727 A-L-L.
728 I LOVE THAT.
729 THERE IS NO PLACE THAT GOD IS NOT.
730 NO PLACE.
731 IN THE PRISON,
732 IN THE CHOIR LOFT.
733 734 ON MY KNEES, GOD IS RIGHT THERE.
735 ALL. GOD IS ALL.
736 ARE THERE MANY WAYS TO GET TO HIM?
737 I THINK SO, AS MANY WAYS AS THERE ARE, ABSOLUTELY.
738 LIKE THE WAY, THE HIGHWAYS THAT GO TO ROME,
739 BUT ALL ROADS LEAD TO GOD. YES.
740 WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE HAPPENS WHEN YOU DIE?
741 OH, I GO BACK TO ALL.
742 [ BOTH LAUGH ]
743 THAT'S ALL. YOU GO BACK TO ALL?
744 YES. I'M IN ALL RIGHT NOW, I JUST GO BACK TO ALL.
745 GO BACK TO ALL? YES, ANOTHER
746 IT'S JUST ANOTHER WAY OF BEING IN THE ALL.
747 YES, AND IT'S SO INTERESTING,
748 'CAUSE YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON
749 THAT SAID TO ME IN A WAY I REALLY GOT
750 THAT THERE ARE AS MANY LEVELS
751 YOU SAID THAT EVERYBODY THINKS THAT THERE'S JUST ONE WAY.
752 THERE'S NOT JUST ONE GATE.
753 THERE ARE AS MANY GATES AS THERE ARE PEOPLE.
754 THERE ARE AS MANY GATES AS ARE PEOPLE.
755 AND THEN DR. EBEN ALEXANDER'S BOOK,
756 "IN PROOF OF HEAVEN." OH, YES.
757 HE TALKS ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, MULTIPLE LEVELS.
758 EXACTLY. YES.
759 I LOVE THAT BOOK, BY THE WAY.
760 AND THEN TO FIND AND TO SEE HIM ON "SUPER SOUL"
761 JUST KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF. [ LAUGHS ]
762 AMAZING.
763 WHAT DO YOU CALL THE SOUL?
764 WHAT IS IT?
765 WHAT IS THE SOUL?
766 THE SOUL IS THE SPIRIT
767 WHICH LONGS FOR ALL.
768 OOH.
769 AND THAT SPIRIT THEN USES ITSELF
770 TO CREATE THE BLUES
771 AND GOSPEL MUSIC
772 AND POP MUSIC AND HIP-HOP.
773 IT'S THAT SPIRIT THAT LONGS,
774 THAT SAYS,
775 "LET ME SAY SOMETHING
776 "WHICH WILL HELP ME, LEAD ME TO ALL,
777 "WHETHER THE POETRY IS THE POETRY OF NIKKI GIOVANNI,
778 "SONIA SANCHEZ,
779 "OR WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
780 "OR MAYA ANGELOU,
781 EUGENE REDMOND."
782 THE POETRY.
783 I WRITE IT SO I CAN GET CLOSER TO ALL.
784 LET ME TELL SO MUCH TRUTH.
785 NOT FACTS, BECAUSE FACTS CAN OBSCURE THE TRUTH.
786 MM-HMM. YOU TELL SO MANY FACTS
787 THE PLACES WHERE, THE PEOPLE WHO,
788 TIMES WHEN, THE REASONS WHY,
789 BLAH, BLAH, BLAH,
790 NEVER GETTING TO THE TRUTH.
791 SO, I WANT TO TELL THE TRUTH IN MY WORK.
792 AND IT WILL HELP ME, LEAD ME CLOSER TO ALL.
793 AND IS DO YOU SEE
794 I REMEMBER RAINN WILSON WAS ON "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY,"
795 AND HE SAID THAT ART IS ANOTHER FORM OF PRAYER.
796 OF COURSE.
797 YEAH, YOU SEE THAT, TOO? EXACTLY.
798 THAT'S WHY YOU TRY YOUR BEST
799 TO SAY THE RIGHT THING, THE TRUE THING.
800 MM-HMM. THE GOOD THING.
801 BECAUSE YOU'RE AN ARTIST,
802 AND YOU'RE USING GOD ITSELF
803 TO HELP YOU TO GET TO GOD.
804 OH, YES.
805 HOW DO YOU DEFINE SPIRITUALITY
806 VERSUS RELIGION?
807 OH, RELIGION IS LIKE A MAP.
808 IT CAN HELP YOU TO SEE
809 HOW TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
810 ALL IT DOES IS SHOW YOU HOW TO GET THERE.
811 IT'S ONLY A MAP. YEAH.
812 AND SPIRITUALITY FOR YOU MEANS...?
813 OH.
814 SURRENDER.
815 I SURRENDER ALL TO ALL.
816 COMING UP, I KNEW MAYA WOULD HAVE
817 A GREAT RESPONSE TO THIS QUESTION.
818 WHAT DOES PRAYER MEAN TO YOU?
819 OH, I KNOW YOU'RE A PRAYING WOMAN.
820 I'M A PRAYING WOMAN. YOU'RE A PRAYING WOMAN.
821 PLUS, MAYA ANGELOU'S PROFOUND WORDS
822 THAT INSPIRED A NATION.
823 LIFT UP YOUR EYES UPON THIS DAY BREAKING FOR YOU.
824 GIVE BIRTH AGAIN TO THE DREAM.
825 826 WELL, WHEN YOU WROTE IT, I WANT TO KNOW
827 HEAR FROM YOUR MOUTH
828 WHY YOU KNOW THE CAGED BIRD SINGS.
829 THE CAGED BIRD SINGS BECAUSE IT MUST.
830 IT MUST OR DIE.
831 MAYBE IT MUST ANDDIE. I DON'T KNOW.
832 BUT IT MUST SING.
833 SOMETIMES, THE MELODY ARRIVED AT IN THE CAGE
834 IS MUCH MORE FETCHING, MUCH MORE APPEALING,
835 MUCH MORE PROFOUND, MUCH MORE POIGNANT,
836 THAN THE MELODY ARRIVED AT
837 BY THE BIRD WHO'S ON THE LOOSE.
838 THE CAGED BIRD SINGS WITH A FEARFUL TRILL.
839 ITS SONG IS HEARD ON THE DISTANT HILL,
840 FOR THE CAGED BIRD SINGS OF FREEDOM.
841 FREEDOM.
842 AND SO, THERE'S SOMETHING UNIVERSAL ABOUT THAT SONG,
843 SINCE ALL OF US ARE CAGED IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER,
844 AND SO, PEOPLE CAN HEAR IT AND SAY,
845 "OH, YES, OH, LORD, LET THAT BIRD OUT."
846 847 Oprah: "SUPER SOUL SUNDAY" WILL BE BACK IN A MOMENT.
848 849 850 WHAT DOES PRAYER MEAN TO YOU?
851 OH, I KNOW YOU'RE A PRAYING WOMAN.
852 I'M A PRAYING WOMAN. YOU'RE A PRAYING WOMAN.
853 YES, I AM. YEAH.
854 SO, WHEN YOU SAY TO ME
855 THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES YOU'VE SAID TO ME,
856 "I'M PRAYING FOR YOU." MM-HMM.
857 "AND I'M PRAYING WITH YOU."
858 I KNOW I'M GONNA BE ALL RIGHT.
859 [ LAUGHS ] I KNOW. I KNOW.
860 IT CHANGES THINGS.
861 AND YOU'RE CONNECTED. YES, I AM.
862 AND I THANK GOD FOR THAT.
863 I KNOW THAT, WHEN I PRAY,
864 SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS.
865 NOT JUST TO THE PERSON OR PERSONS FOR WHOM I'M PRAYING,
866 BUT ALSO SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS TO ME.
867 I'M GRATEFUL THAT I'M HEARD.
868 MM.
869 'CAUSE YOU KNOW ALL HEARS IT ALL.
870 THAT'S IT.
871 WHERE DO YOU FEEL MOST AT HOME
872 OR AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF?
873 WITH MYSELF?
874 IN MYSELF.
875 ALWAYS, WHEN I'M IN MYSELF.
876 THAT IS TO SAY,
877 I'M AT PEACE WITH YOU.
878 I'M AT PEACE WITH 40,000 CAMERAS ZOOMING AROUND,
879 THAT'S FINE.
880 I'M AT PEACE IN MY BUS.
881 I'M AT PEACE STANDING IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE,
882 AS I DID A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO,
883 FOR 10,000 PEOPLE.
884 I'M AT PEACE.
885 ONCE I KNOW I AM CENTERED,
886 IN GOD, I LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE MY BEING.
887 I'M ALL RIGHT, JACK.
888 I'M ALL RIGHT.
889 NOW, WHEN I LOSE IT,
890 AS YOU DO LOSE IT FROM TIME TO TIME
891 IT IS HUMAN, I THINK
892 IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT THERE WE ARE.
893 SO, FAITH TREMBLES
894 AND SKIDS AWAY.
895 AND SO, FOR THAT MOMENT,
896 I'M DANGEROUS, AND I'M IN DANGER.
897 YES.
898 BUT AS SOON AS I MAKE THE STATEMENT,
899 "IN GOD, I LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE MY BEING," I'M FINE.
900 I THANK YOU. I'M FINE.
901 AND I USE THAT PHRASE I USE THAT TO CALM MYSELF.
902 THAT IS MY LIVING MANTRA FOR MYSELF.
903 IN ALL DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.
904 AND IN ALSO GOOD ONES, I USE, "IN GOD, I MOVE."
905 'CAUSE WHEN YOU USE IT IN GOOD TIMES,
906 THE ALL IS PLEASED, 'CAUSE IT KNOWS THAT
907 YOU KNOW THAT YOUR GOOD TIMES WERE BECAUSE OF IT.
908 YES, THAT'S RIGHT.
909 YES, SO, YOU'RE JUST SAYING "THANK YOU."
910 THANK YOU.
911 AND WHAT DO YOU KNOW FOR SURE, MAYA ANGELOU?
912 I KNOW FOR SURE THAT LOVE SAVES ME,
913 AND THAT IT IS HERE TO SAVE US ALL.
914 I KNOW IT'S A SENSE.
915 IT'S MORE CLOSE TO US THAN AIR.
916 917 MORE MORE LOUD TO US THAN HEARING.
918 MM-HMM.
919 I KNOW IT.
920 I KNOW THAT WE CAN SIT IN IT.
921 YES, LOVE, HONEY.
922 AND YOU KNOW BY THAT, I DON'T MEAN MUSH, OR ANY
923 I DON'T MEAN ROMANCE. OR SENTIMENTALITY.
924 I DO NOT, NO, MA'AM.
925 I MEAN SOMETHING IS SO
926 IT CAN RAISE THE DEAD.
927 IT CAN RAISE THE DEAD? YES, MA'AM.
928 IT CAN MAKE A MOUNTAIN MOVE.
929 I KNOW IT.
930 I HAVEN'T DONE IT, BUT I KNOW IT.
931 AS SURELY AS I'M SITTING HERE.
932 MM-HMM, MM-HMM.
933 WELL, THAT'S WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN TO ME, ALWAYS.
934 I THANK YOU, MY DARLING. I LOVE YOU.
935 I LOVE YOU, AND YOU KNOW IT.
936 [ LAUGHS ] THANK YOU.
937 Oprah: IN 1993,
938 PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON HANDPICKED MAYA ANGELOU
939 TO READ A POEM AT HIS FIRST INAUGURATION.
940 SHE WAS ONLY THE SECOND POET IN HISTORY
941 TO RECEIVE SUCH AN HONOR,
942 THE FIRST BEING ROBERT FROST IN 1961.
943 I CAN THINK OF NO BETTER WAY TO END TODAY'S SHOW
944 THAN WITH SOME OF MAYA'S PROFOUND WORDS
945 FROM "ON THE PULSE OF MORNING."
946 Angelou: "LIFT UP YOUR FACES, YOU HAVE A PIERCING NEED
947 "FOR THIS BRIGHT MORNING DAWNING FOR YOU.
948 "HISTORY, DESPITE ITS WRENCHING PAIN,
949 "CANNOT BE UNLIVED,
950 "BUT IF FACED WITH COURAGE,
951 "NEED NOT BE LIVED AGAIN.
952 "LIFT UP YOUR EYES UPON THIS DAY BREAKING FOR YOU.
953 "GIVE BIRTH AGAIN TO THE DREAM.
954 "WOMEN, CHILDREN, MEN,
955 "TAKE IT INTO THE PALMS OF YOUR HANDS,
956 "MOLD IT INTO THE SHAPE OF YOUR MOST PRIVATE NEED.
957 "SCULPT IT INTO THE IMAGE OF YOUR MOST PUBLIC SELF.
958 "LIFT UP YOUR HEART.
959 "EACH NEW HOUR HOLDS NEW CHANCES FOR A NEW BEGINNING.
960 "DO NOT BE WEDDED FOREVER TO FEAR,
961 "YOKED ETERNALLY TO BRUTISHNESS.
962 "THE HORIZON LEANS FORWARD,
963 "OFFERING YOU SPACE TO PLACE NEW STEPS OF CHANGE.
964 "HERE, ON THE PULSE OF THIS FINE DAY,
965 "YOU MAY HAVE THE COURAGE TO LOOK UP AND OUT AND UPON ME,
966 "THE ROCK, THE RIVER, THE TREE, YOUR COUNTRY.
967 "NO LESS TO MIDAS THAN THE MENDICANT.
968 "NO LESS TO YOU NOW THAN THE MASTODON THEN.
969 "HERE, ON THE PULSE OF THIS NEW DAY,
970 "YOU MAY HAVE THE GRACE TO LOOK UP AND OUT
971 "AND INTO YOUR SISTER'S EYE
972 "AND INTO YOUR BROTHER'S FACE,
973 "YOUR COUNTRY,
974 "AND SAY, SIMPLY, VERY SIMPLY,
975 "WITH HOPE,
976 GOOD MORNING."
977 [ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
978 979 Oprah: GOOD MORNING, MAYA.
980 I'LL SEE ALL OF YOU NEXT SUNDAY.
981 982 ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA SIT HERE.
983 RIGHT HERE.
984 THE TWO OF US? YEAH.
985 ALL RIGHT.
986 [ CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKING ] THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
987 THIS IS LIKE THE PHOTOGRAPH OF ME AND MY MOM.
988 [ LAUGHS ]
989 YOU KNOW, IN THE FRONT OF THE BOOK.
990 YEAH, CAN YOU DO THIS? YES.
991 SEND IT TO ME FOR TWEETABILITY.
992 [ LAUGHS ]
993 THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
994 THANK YOU.
995 I LOVE YOU. I LOVE YOU, SO DEARLY.
996
