What a sad, sad day. She was such an amazing human being, and gave us so much.
Hey 1-3, I doubt you could scrape together enough life experience to publish a paragraph. It obviously just boils your bacon to be reminded that you've lived such a wasted life. When it's your turn to rot in the ground there won't be anything left of you at all. Not even these comments, since you never sign them. Nothing at all.

Good.

The one time I met her she was sloshed. Seems like my kind of lady!

I had to defend I Know Why the Cage Bird Sings to the school board in ninth grade because a parent complained about the book. The teacher who taught it left that year so it became a moot point, but I'd like to think they would have let her keep teaching the book based on her students stellar oratory skills.

Mme. Angelou on 9/11:

"Living in a state of terror was new to many white people in America, but black people have been living in a state of terror in this country for more than 400 years."

But I especially liked Guardian writer Gary Younge's 2009 take on her many accomplishments and experiences:

To know her life story is to simultaneously wonder what on earth you have been doing with your own life and feel glad that you didn't have to go through half the things she has.

She never backed down from life. And her voice taught others strength. RIP.

We have lost a national treasure.

I saw her in person once many years ago. She was a guest performer with the Seattle Men's Chorus. I have never in my life, before or since, been so effected by someone reading poetry. I don't even like most poetry. She was amazing. Her words. Her voice. Her passion. Her life. For me, she transcended mere poetry. One of the few people I found truly inspirational.

Nobody can live forever, of course, but I'm deeply saddened by her passing.

My favorite Maya Angelou-related pop culture is the Maya Angelou Reads the Craigslist M4M4Se… skit.

OMFG I just spit beer all over the computer!