When the curtains of Jesse Auditorium opened Thursday night, 83-year-old Maya Angelou received a standing ovation from the crowd before she said a word.
Angelou, a renowned poet, actress, author, civil rights activist, director and playwright, is most well known for writing “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” She has received three Grammy awards, has been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and was asked to write a poem for the 50th anniversary of the United Nations.
The last time Angelou was scheduled to speak at MU, four years ago, she had to postpone the visit to receive the Medal of Freedom.
“I accepted the Medal of Freedom for all of us,” Angelou said. “My intention is to represent all of us.”
Amanda Gastler, Speakers Committee chairwoman for the Missouri Students Association Department of Student Activities, said MSA wanted to bring her back because of her message and accomplishments.
“There aren’t very many people who have experienced all the things she has done in her lifetime,” Gastler said. “She has so many accomplishments. The students can see that anyone is capable of doing the things she has done. They can truly believe that they can do anything.”
Before 2007, it had been 20 years since Angelou came to MU.
“I did my best, but it was 20-odd years before I was invited again,” Angelou said to start her speech.
For the rest of the night, Angelou shared stories of hardship, stories of enlightenment and words of encouragement.
“I’m hoping to gain a little more inspiration,” freshman Joycelynn Granderson said. “Just a little glimmer of hope.”
When Angelou was 7 years old, her mother’s boyfriend raped her. Three days after telling her brother about the rape, the man was killed. Angelou said she believed that it was her words that killed him, and because of that, she stopped talking for more than six years.
“I thought that if I spoke, my voice would go out and kill anybody,” Angelou said.
She said there is one central theme in all of her poetry, theater writings and work.
“I am a human being,” Angelou said. “Nothing human can be alien to me.”
This theme came up often in her speech, usually to offer advice to the college students in the audience.
“You are here in Missouri to make this country more than it is today,” Angelou said.
The poet said students are not at MU just to meet a future partner or work hard to get the right job. Rather, students are at school to make a difference.
“Maya Angelou is very inspirational and remarkable,” freshman Chasney Jenkins said. “This is like a once in a lifetime opportunity to go and see her speak. I think she has an awesome story.”
Angelou said students not only need to see themselves as people who can help bring the walls of ignorance down, but also as people who have the potential to do anything.
“You need someone to say, ‘Not only are you alright, you’re just right,’” Angelou said.