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Fri: Clinton and Angelou at WFU
posted at 2008-04-18 21:23 | Last modified 2008-04-19 10:18
Maya Angelou opened the evening's event with a song: “When it looked like the sun wasn’t gonna shine any more, God put a rainbow in the clouds.”
“Many years ago, I started watching a rainbow,” Angelou said, talking about Clinton's time as first lady of Arkansas. “And I watched her become a woman. There's a world of difference between being an old female and being a woman.”
Angelou says her own daughter supports Senator Barack Obama. “And I’m proud of that…I respect her for it.”
But she added what may be the most graceful endorsement of the whole race thus far:
“I said 20 years ago, if this woman ever runs for anything, I’ll put my hand behind her back.
“I know that Senator Clinton is a long-distance runner. And however the odds may go and the polls may show — from day, to night, to tomorrow morning — I know she’s in it for the long run. I am honored to say I am with her for the long run.”
Clinton was equally complimentary, calling Angelou one of her "Sheroes."
“There are grace notes in one’s life. Sometimes, they are apparent immediately when they occur. Sometimes they come into focus upon reflection. Maya Angelou has been a grace note in our lives.
"And I remember, long before I ever thought I would have the opportunity to meet her, to get to know her, reading that extraordinary story of her life as a young girl in Arkansas– I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.
"And that story was her story, but it was the story of every person who wishes to have that voice of special meaning that is within each of us heard, recognized, validated. To have the freedom to be who God meant us to be…who you are meant to be... It was a signal moment in my life, a true moment of grace.”
Hillary recounted the process of choosing Angelou to write a poem for Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration.
“Sitting there on that cold January morning, listening to that voice which is so powerful and memorable read the poem that she had written for the occasion, "Pulse of the Morning," felt like going home and coming full circle.”Update: WRAL has the video here.
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