Saluting Maya Angelou with the US Postal Svc Forever Stamp

Today, August 20th, 2015, I had the privilege of joining with David Dinkins, Susan Taylor, numerous dignitaries, and many extraordinary "ordinary" people to honor the memory of Maya Angelou on the occassion of the release by the US Postal Service of the Maya Angelou Forever Stamp. The ceremony was held at the Ted Weiss Federal building at 290 Broadway in lower Manhattan, directly adjacent to the African Burial Ground National Monument.

Maya Angelou was an extraordinary woman who taught us all that we can be giants, and that there will be a price, but it will be worth it. She survived personal tragedy and came to understand the world through her art, as an actress, a dancer, a director, an activist, and of course as a poet. Her poetry was always moving and inspiring, and always challenging.

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.

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My great hope is to laugh as much as I cry; to get my work done and try to love somebody and have the courage to accept the love in return.

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Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest.

She was the voice of a generation, and an example forever. Thank you, USPS, for the Maya Angelou Forever Stamp.