We wear the mask that grins and lies. It shades our cheeks and hides our eyes. This debt we pay to human guile With torn and bleeding hearts… We smile and mouth the myriad subtleties. Why should the world think otherwise In counting all our tears and sighs. Nay let them only see us while We wear the mask. We smile but oh my God Our tears to thee from tortured souls arise And we sing Oh Baby doll, now we sing… The clay is vile beneath our feet And long the mile But let the world think otherwise. We wear the mask. When I think about myself I almost laugh myself to death. My life has been one great big joke! A dance that’s walked a song that’s spoke. I laugh so hard HA! HA! I almos’ choke When I think about myself. Seventy years in these folks’ world The child I works for calls me girl I say “HA! HA! HA! Yes ma’am!” For workin’s sake I’m too proud to bend and Too poor to break So…I laugh! Until my stomach ache When I think about myself. My folks can make me split my side I laugh so hard, HA! HA! I nearly died The tales they tell sound just like lying They grow the fruit but eat the rind. Hmm huh! I laugh uhuh huh huh… Until I start to cry when I think about myself And my folks and the children. My fathers sit on benches, Their flesh count every plank, The slats leave dents of darkness Deep in their withered flank. And they gnarled like broken candles, All waxed and burned profound. They say, but sugar, it was our submission that made your world go round. There in those pleated faces I see the auction block The chains and slavery’s coffles The whip and lash and stock. My fathers speak in voices That shred my fact and sound They say, but sugar, it was our submission that made your world go round. They laugh to conceal their crying, They shuffle through their dreams They stepped ’n fetched a country And wrote the blues in screams. I understand their meaning, It could an did derive From living on the edge of death They kept my race alive By wearing the mask! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
The sound of this woman's voice simply gives me chills and goosebumps.her voice is amazing and what she has to say is soo real and inspires me.this woman is so wise and loving.she makes me smile whenever I see her :) simply amazing! Rest in peace Maya Angelou. I love everything you did! You will live on forsure! Gone but NEVER forgotten.
This is one of my all time favorite poems by Dr.Maya Angelo. I remember watching it when it first aired, and tears streamed down my face. What a poet, and true inspiration she was for women and men everywhere. IT was through this poem, I learned I had to take off a mask, and never put it on again. Love
A Great Soul has passed in these times when we need her most. May Dr. Angelo's poems live on to teach the children, awaken the masses and connect to make us whole.
Yes, this is why I love to listen to Maya Angelou. Her wisdom and life experiences teaches if people just listen. I love the people I come from and that's love. No human can be no human than another human being.
I heard Ms. Angelou recite this YEARS ago...I've ALWAYS remembered this, more than anything else I've heard from/by her. It stuck with me, and is actually something I've done in life to keep from breaking down when things become too much for me to bear.
I'm so choked up after watching this........nothing is a mistake.....nothing is happenstance.....Like Maya Angelou said, We are ALL Human. I'm so glad I am in the world while Maya Angelou existed in this world. Her residue still heals, still strengthens.....Now that's ever lasting POWER! -Monea' aka BorntomotivateFILM
“ The Truth is, No Human Being can be MORE Human than another Human Being.” Maya Angelou~ So simple, yet so profound. 🤯 Bring Peace where ever you go. ❤️🙏🏼
THANK YOU MAMA Maya for BLISSING and gracing me TODAY!!! You showed me to continue HEALING and growing even through the trials. LOVE YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL xxxx
I never did wear a mask..then I saw my sister's did..they were raised in the deep south..but I left very young..I escaped so many old ideas..thank you creator. We forge my path🌳🍃❤
Why is she gone? Where is she for me and all of us, besides memories and replayed poems? Now that I need her, so did God... But grateful am I that she lives on to teach me enough...
I Thank You May a Angelos, for the many years of expressed feelings,and poetic thoughts you shared with me and throughout your life time. You will need error be forgotten. ... R.I.P. LOVE DEBRA.2015
This gave me chills....She is timeless...her gift is timeless..only jealousy and foolish pride keeps one from truly understanding what she is relating...
Though this has been our plight I guarantee that not everyone can be us. And I'm sure that others thinks that about themselves and their own people. But we wear the struggle of a people who will always fight against the odds and we will stand to the very end of our individual lives. I am proud of my life and my people's legacy. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Thank you Maya Angelou for this beautiful and thought provoking poem on many levels of "the struggle". Rest In Peace. ❤️
I like how Ma immediately said “It’s love, not sentimentality.” As I was almost going to respond with tears, then I stopped myself thinking, it was an experience. I cannot feel shame or sadness for her experience. I can appreciate it, and as Ma states, it was her expression of love.
Thx from "pale" guy from other side of the ocean, you nailed it and brought me to tears in the middle of some laughter , a blues'er since he was 15 , having had so many blue's , dark blue in (the eyes of my dying mother), light blue (in the eyes of my kids ) like the sky on a clear day's morning ......
So much sincerity in her voice. The depth in her voice is magnificent. Truly a voice of the people. The human people, the human race. Her race was won. God Bless.
No human being can be more human than another human being! I liberate you from my ignorance... love this woman's level of intellect. One of a kind... Born naturally devine! Big ups to you mama 💪❤👍strong love!!!
April 4: Happy birthday Writer, poet, educator Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) Thank you and God bless. RIP....Thanks fro the upload, Russell Jones. Blessings
Dear God, I love this woman like she was my own grandmother.
Me too. I never got to meet her, but through the years her words resonate in my soul.
She is our grandmother not by flesh but by spirit.
Yes! I say she is my grandma too 💞 RIP Dear Grandma
She is our grandmother.
I wish she my grandmother so I can listen to her poem ♥️
She could've been the president of the United States if she wanted to. What a woman!
Phenomenal Woman....
Phenomenally
We need twenty of her today😭
Her job was so much more important than that. Her job was to change the world and she did.
@@36isnotold Amen!!
@NEGUS ASKARI HODARI ❤
gotta respect a woman who can make a grownass black man pull down his sunglasses to wipe off a tear on BET.
Her wisdom is just beautiful.
The spirit of God..... moves through her voice
Love..... moves through her voice.
@@momackay God is Love...
True vessel of God
Nope. Thats all her. She's incredible.
"No human being can be more human being than another human." Beautiful and true words. To everyone who agrees, have a blessed day. Peace.
i beg to differ
i beg to differ
Blessings to you too 🙏
Thank you. 🦋
, @@orafranc237
"But sugar it was our submission that made your world go round..."
Who's here in 2021? So profound! Still makes me cry.
2022
"The truth is: no human being can be more human than another human being."
Such profound words.
Yes.
No human can be more human than another human being. (love)
i dont agree with that, but that doesn't matter
@@orafranc237 You dont have to agree but if you arent our race you will "never" understand. I say this unapapologetically.
We wear the mask that grins and lies.
It shades our cheeks and hides our eyes.
This debt we pay to human guile
With torn and bleeding hearts…
We smile and mouth the myriad subtleties.
Why should the world think otherwise
In counting all our tears and sighs.
Nay let them only see us while
We wear the mask.
We smile but oh my God
Our tears to thee from tortured souls arise
And we sing Oh Baby doll, now we sing…
The clay is vile beneath our feet
And long the mile
But let the world think otherwise.
We wear the mask.
When I think about myself
I almost laugh myself to death.
My life has been one great big joke!
A dance that’s walked a song that’s spoke.
I laugh so hard HA! HA! I almos’ choke
When I think about myself.
Seventy years in these folks’ world
The child I works for calls me girl
I say “HA! HA! HA! Yes ma’am!”
For workin’s sake
I’m too proud to bend and
Too poor to break
So…I laugh! Until my stomach ache
When I think about myself.
My folks can make me split my side
I laugh so hard, HA! HA! I nearly died
The tales they tell sound just like lying
They grow the fruit but eat the rind.
Hmm huh! I laugh uhuh huh huh…
Until I start to cry when I think about myself
And my folks and the children.
My fathers sit on benches,
Their flesh count every plank,
The slats leave dents of darkness
Deep in their withered flank.
And they gnarled like broken candles,
All waxed and burned profound.
They say, but sugar, it was our submission
that made your world go round.
There in those pleated faces
I see the auction block
The chains and slavery’s coffles
The whip and lash and stock.
My fathers speak in voices
That shred my fact and sound
They say, but sugar, it was our submission
that made your world go round.
They laugh to conceal their crying,
They shuffle through their dreams
They stepped ’n fetched a country
And wrote the blues in screams.
I understand their meaning,
It could an did derive
From living on the edge of death
They kept my race alive
By wearing the mask! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Thats My People, Thats Love
Thank you for sharing each beautiful word of this poem❤
Thank you for putting these words up. ❤️
Extraordinary Thank you
Thank you
What an amazing woman. To rise out of ashes without bitterness but love.
"Bring peace in your heart whenever you go anywhere. ... You understand? It's my prayer for you." I just love that. Thank you for posting.
rest in peace Maya Angelou rest in peace
Amen
Beautiful!!!!
In order to keep a person down, you got to be there with them...
Cindy Ibrahim it is the other way around
Cindy Ibrahim love it ! Right on que
Wow Cindy. You have words too !
She is so true with what she says GOD loves us all the same...PEACE
The sound of this woman's voice simply gives me chills and goosebumps.her voice is amazing and what she has to say is soo real and inspires me.this woman is so wise and loving.she makes me smile whenever I see her :) simply amazing! Rest in peace Maya Angelou. I love everything you did! You will live on forsure! Gone but NEVER forgotten.
RIP 1928-2014 You will be missed...
And I can imagine she's already got 1000 sonnets made out while she's up there that are even better.
Wow...tell me about it...
They laughed, indeed, to 'cover' the mask! TEACH us, oh wise one!!💕🌹
This woman damned near always brings me to tears. What a phenomenal woman. May God bless her for all eternity.
🙏
This is one of my all time favorite poems by Dr.Maya Angelo. I remember watching it when it first aired, and tears streamed down my face. What a poet, and true inspiration she was for women and men everywhere. IT was through this poem, I learned I had to take off a mask, and never put it on again.
Love
Jester Jenkins :*O)
We wear the mask to keep our secrets. They don't deserve to see our pain
66 year old MEN can cry?? I am guilty!! RIP DR,MAYA ANGELOU! NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN.
I cried so hard when I heard this poem for the first time... so thankful for my ancestors and all they went through just so I can be here.
The atmosphere shifted right when you left us Mama Dr. Maya. We love you ❤️🥹
Phenomenal Dr. Maya Angelou 🌷💚🦅☕ I smile Rest in peace 🙏💙 Psalm 23
She's amazing simply amazing
A Great Soul has passed in these times when we need her most. May Dr. Angelo's poems live on to teach the children, awaken the masses and connect to make us whole.
Jeanne-Marie Aurnague dr
Yes, this is why I love to listen to Maya Angelou. Her wisdom and life experiences teaches if people just listen. I love the people I come from and that's love. No human can be no human than another human being.
I heard Ms. Angelou recite this YEARS ago...I've ALWAYS remembered this, more than anything else I've heard from/by her. It stuck with me, and is actually something I've done in life to keep from breaking down when things become too much for me to bear.
I'm so choked up after watching this........nothing is a mistake.....nothing is happenstance.....Like Maya Angelou said, We are ALL Human. I'm so glad I am in the world while Maya Angelou existed in this world. Her residue still heals, still strengthens.....Now that's ever lasting POWER! -Monea' aka BorntomotivateFILM
“I laugh so hard I start to crying 😢 “..” when I think about myself “ I’m only 17 and I knowsss . I laugh to numb away the pain and trauma
What a privilege to have had this QUEEN 👑 in the world 🌍 Your words will live on in our hearts 💙💚🧡 forever Maya Angelou 🙏🏻👼🏽🙏🏻
I miss this Golden lady. A library of Loving knowledge & emotions. This Queen was truly Love ❤️
Maya Angelou is such a beautiful woman who if you read about her you would be suprised what she was and what GOD made her to be...Love HER
MAYA ANGELOU you were a fantastic phenominal woman words cannot describe how your words brings me joy love you loads RIP lovely lady
Such a powerful poem.
"I liberate you from my ignorance" RIP Dr Maya Angelou
She is one of my favorites!!! So much power
She said to take peace with you! !!
Mr favorite part - "Just decide, 'I'm going to take peace with me, i'm not gonna wait till I get there to make it'"@5:15
Matthew Nall Yes! I started listening to Adyashanti & he says same. So good to remember...
OHH Maya may your beautiful soul rest in peace. I love you
“ The Truth is, No Human Being can be MORE Human than another Human Being.”
Maya Angelou~
So simple, yet so profound. 🤯
Bring Peace where ever you go.
❤️🙏🏼
Hearing her voice always bring joy to my heart!!!!
R.I.P
Gone but not forgotten.
You were a gem.
This woman was amazing. But whoever edited this so badly needs a slap!
“In order to bring a person down you gotta be right there with them” I love her😩❤️
"We wear the mask"😢😢😭
What an extraordinary woman she was.. She was a blessing.. But oh what pearls of wisdom she left behind..🔥💎💯💕
I love this spiritual lifting 🥰😍😍
She is so phenomenal, thank you Grandma Maya for all you've done Rest in power 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
THANK YOU MAMA Maya for BLISSING and gracing me TODAY!!! You showed me to continue HEALING and growing even through the trials. LOVE YOU BEAUTIFUL SOUL xxxx
My grandmother and aunt use to wear that mask, may they rest in peace and I couldn't understand... why... now I do.😢
LA Dama De Nadie Life kills beauty internally.
I never did wear a mask..then I saw my sister's did..they were raised in the deep south..but I left very young..I escaped so many old ideas..thank you creator. We forge my path🌳🍃❤
Why is she gone? Where is she for me and all of us, besides memories and replayed poems? Now that I need her, so did God... But grateful am I that she lives on to teach me enough...
THE LADY SIMPLY STUNS "MY SOUL"!
She just makes me smile.
This poem never fail to make my tear up.
She was and will always be the ultimate inspiration!!!
I saw this one Sunday, while walking out the door on the way to Sunday school; I couldn't help my cry.
Words of wisdom. Thank you, for your words, Dr. Angelou. You inspire me as the writer in progress, that I am.
This piece was SOUL STIRRING!!! #RealityPoet💕👑
I Thank You May a Angelos, for the many years of expressed feelings,and poetic thoughts you shared with me and throughout your life time. You will need error be forgotten. ...
R.I.P. LOVE DEBRA.2015
This gave me chills....She is timeless...her gift is timeless..only jealousy and foolish pride keeps one from truly understanding what she is relating...
Though this has been our plight I guarantee that not everyone can be us. And I'm sure that others thinks that about themselves and their own people. But we wear the struggle of a people who will always fight against the odds and we will stand to the very end of our individual lives. I am proud of my life and my people's legacy. I LOVE YOU ALL!!! Thank you Maya Angelou for this beautiful and thought provoking poem on many levels of "the struggle". Rest In Peace. ❤️
Wearing the mask is comes so natural.. Awesome poem
I like how Ma immediately said “It’s love, not sentimentality.” As I was almost going to respond with tears, then I stopped myself thinking, it was an experience. I cannot feel shame or sadness for her experience. I can appreciate it, and as Ma states, it was her expression of love.
I love the truth! Real Talk!!!!
👍Love her. I’m blessed that I had the pleasure to meet her. 💞
Mama thank you for leaving something for us to look to ...rest with angels maya
One of my favorite poems
What a gem...what a rare and fine gem....I'm glad that she is one of MY people!!!!!
Thx from "pale" guy from other side of the ocean, you nailed it and brought me to tears in the middle of some laughter , a blues'er since he was 15 , having had so many blue's , dark blue in (the eyes of my dying mother), light blue (in the eyes of my kids ) like the sky on a clear day's morning ......
Thank You!!!!
Her spirit is so beautiful. She is so inspiring. Her views of life is so gorgeous. Thank you, God for giving us an angel.
RIP you are an amazing women.
Laugh to keep from crying
I LOVE THIS WOMAN
thanks for posting this I was looking for it
So inspiring.
OH YOU BEAUTIFUL LADY...HOW U TOUCH MY HEART....
I love you mama
I never tire of watching this video. Beautiful And truthful
So much sincerity in her voice. The depth in her voice is magnificent. Truly a voice of the people. The human people, the human race. Her race was won. God Bless.
We miss Mama!
Amen
I love her!!! Her and my grandmother. Smartest women ever!!!
I played this video for my learners in class today and before the end of the video half the learners were in tears.
No human being can be more human than another human being! I liberate you from my ignorance... love this woman's level of intellect. One of a kind... Born naturally devine! Big ups to you mama 💪❤👍strong love!!!
always be remembered maya Angelou
Such grace and class.
Forever an inspiration.
I am so grateful this was in my feed today.
I am crying. I read her books in middle School but I'm older now and have such a different outlook and appreciation for her
Very powerful. I'm grateful that I have came across this ❤️ it was what I needed to hear
Maya Angelou was such a heaven sent, an Angel directly from God to us humans to preach His Gospel for over 6 decades 🙏🙌💞
one of my favorites! Love this one!
Beautiful words from a beautiful soul within a beautiful woman ..this seeped deep into mine so I was inclined to weep
Wisdom......such an amazing women and talent. Thank you with love.
Thank you for your submission! GOLD. ❤️
Oh how I admire this beautiful soul. Class act is an understatement.
This is deeply beautiful! It touched my heart to hear this.
April 4: Happy birthday Writer, poet, educator Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014) Thank you and God bless. RIP....Thanks fro the upload, Russell Jones. Blessings
Ms. Angelou, you will never know how valuable your life has been to so many people. I love you so much so very much💖