Angelou was known for her moving autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” as well as countless other books and poems.
Angelou has had a number of ties to MSU throughout her life. In 1990, Angelou spoke with MSU Dean John Eadie and Poetry Professor Diane Wakoski for a lecture series created by the university.
In the talk at the Wharton Center, she opened with one of her poems. The focus of her speech was love.
“I mean real love, I mean that condition of the human spirit so profound, it encourages us to develop courage and to use that courage to build bridges and then to trust those bridges to cross to reach another human being,” Angelou said.
Angelou went on to speak about the importance of African Americans in poetry. Angelou devoted her life to enriching the black community.
She was deeply involved in the civil rights movement, working with activists such as Martin Luther King Jr.
Angelou’s admirers remained in the Auditorium after the lecture to ask questions about the author’s works.
Angelou returned to MSU in 2005 as a commencement speaker for spring graduation.
Before her speech, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon awarded Angelou with a honorary doctorate for humanities.
In her speech to graduates, Angelou provided lyric and verse for guidance.
“When it looked like the sun wasn’t going to shine anymore ... God put a rainbow in the clouds to the class,” she sang.
Angelou gave hope to graduates, assuring them they could amount to greatness.
“Congratulations to you graduates ... Congratulations to your family, your professors, the administration and congratulations to MSU — each one of you has the possibility and privilege of being rainbows in the clouds,” she said.
According to CNN, Angelou’s literary agent, Helen Brann, said she had ongoing heart problems.
Angelou had recently backed out of public appearances such as the acceptance of the 2014 Major League Baseball’s Beacon Award. The award is issued to honor civil rights activists during its civil rights game.
On Wednesday, the family of Maya Angelou issued a statement on Facebook, celebrating her legacy and expressing their gratitude that she had remained sharp-witted even in her later years.
“Her family is extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a loss of acuity or comprehension. She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace,” Angelou’s family said in the statement. “The family is extremely appreciative of the time we had with her and we know that she is looking down upon us with love.”
She died in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, home of Wake Forest University, where she taught American Studies since 1982.
