and i called for a long distance cry on her shoulder, but she wasn t having it. she said, as you all know she could, stop it. stop it now. and i said what? what? what did you say? and she said stop your crying now. and i continued to sniffle and she said, did you hear me? and i said, yes, ma am. only she could level me to my 7-year-old self in an instant. and she said i said why do you want me to stop crying, i m trying to complain to you what happened. and she said i want you to stop and say thank you. because whatever it is, you have the faith to know that god has
of life. so a very profound impact she s had not only on the lives here at the university but lives as her family said today around the globe. back to you. sarah, thank you very much. right now we are going back to wake forest university, north carolina. oprah winfrey is now giving remarks and a truibute to the late dr. angelou. the first time i heard that phrase, god put a rainbow in the clouds, i was in utter despair and distraught and had called maya. i remember being locked in the bathroom with the door closed sitting on the toilet seat. and i was crying so hard she could barely understand what i was saying. and i had i was upset about something that i can t even remember now what it was. isn t that how life works?
hold a candle to the light god already has shining on your face. can t you see it? she d say look up, look up and see the light. when i was on trial in 1998 in texas for saying something bad about a burger yes. for six weeks i was on trial sued by the texas cattlemen. mama angelou came to texas with a prayer posse. and we all know that maya was a force all by herself, but the force came with backup. they prayed all day and all night long and maya would sit in the courtroom while i testified.
came to texas with a prayer posse. and we all know that maya was a force all by herself, but the force came with backup. they prayed all day and all night long, and maya would sit in the courtroom while i testified. the prosecuting attorneys didn t know what hit them. warrior mom had arrived in amarillo, and it was at the same time that i d met dr. phil, coaching me on how to behave in the courtroom and he d say, look in the jurors eyes, and maya said, no. look above their heads. look above their heads. she said, look above their heads and stand still inside yourself and know who you are. you are god s child, she told
the prosecuting attorneys didn t know what hit them. warrior mom had arrived in amarillo. and it was at the same time that i met dr. phil, who was coaching me on how to behave in the courtroom. and he d say look in the jurors eyes. and maya said, no, look above their heads. look above their heads. she d say look above their heads and stand still inside yourself and know who you are. you are god s child, she told me. and in god you move and breathe and have your being. of course we won that trial. and every other one i faced, she was always there holding me up, holding me up to know myself. to see the light that god already had shining on my face.