Dedicating the New Maya Angelou Forever Stamp

Today was a very special occassion for me.

The US Postal Service released the Maya Angelou Forever Stamp today at a ceremony in the Ted Weiss Federal Building at 290 Broadway in lower Manhattan, next to the African Burial Ground National Monument. I was very happy to join with former NYC Mayor David Dinkins, Susan L. Taylor of Essence magazine, and over one hundred other people who came together to honor a woman many have called the poet laureate of the Civil Rights movement.

The scope of this woman's work always astonishes me. After a traumatic childhood, she blossomed into a self-made piece of art as a dancer, actress, author, screenwriter, activist, and of course, a poet. She worked tirelessly in the Civil Rights movement and gave unforgettable voice to the aspirations, joys and sorrows of African Americans. She lived her life with courage, determination, and so much generous love. Everyone should spend time reading her writings, and they will all find something that resonates for them. One statement of hers will always be with me: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude about it."