boyfriend at the age of 7. she didn t speak for five years. but she would eventually find her voice. and in 1993 her words lifted her to the heights of power, sharing the podium with newly elected president bill clinton at his inauguration. for a number of years, i was a moute, and my grandmother used to braid my hair. and she d say, sister, mama don t care what these people say about you not talking, that you re an idiot or you re a moron. mama don t care. mama know when you and the good lord get ready, sister. you re going to be a preacher. and she could see me stand on a platform with the president of the united states, speaking to all america, my grandma. what do you say? there is a true yearning to respond to the singing river and the wise rock, so say the asian,
there is a true yearning to respond to the singing river and the wise rock. so they the asian, the hispanic, the jew, the african, the native midwestern, the catholic, the muslim, the greek, the irish, the rabbi, the priest, the chic, the gay, the straight, the preacher, the privileged, the homeless, the teacher. they all hear the speaking of the tree. what a breathtaking body of work renowned in its eloquence and its power to endure. maya angelou has passed away. her book i know why the caged bird sings, her poetry, her final message, everything will endure and just make us stop and think every time we hear her voice. welcome back to morning joe.