“First I’m Ms. Angelou, I’m not Maya, I’m 62 years old. I have lived so long and tried so hard that a young woman like you or any other has no…you have no license to come up to me and call me by my first name.”
Those were some of the first words iconic poet and Civil Rights activist Maya Angelou uttered to a 14-year-old girl who addressed her by her first name in a talk show. In the 30-year-old video that recently resurfaced and went viral on social media, the young lady wanted to know Angelou’s thoughts on interracial relationships but she started on the wrong foot. Angelou responded and demanded she is addressed with respect before answering her question, which the audience concurred with applause.“Also because at the same time I’m your mother, I’m your aunt, I’m your teacher, I’m your professor, you see?” Angelou added. Though the video was not shown in its entirety, Angelou later apologized to the young woman. The video sparked a huge debate about respect on Twitter with some people saying Angelou was right for putting the young girl in check and others saying she was a bit too harsh.
Those were some of the first words iconic poet and Civil Rights activist Maya Angelou uttered to a 14-year-old girl who addressed her by her first name in a talk show. In the 30-year-old video that recently resurfaced and went viral on social media, the young lady wanted to know Angelou’s thoughts on interracial relationships but she started on the wrong foot. Angelou responded and demanded she is addressed with respect before answering her question, which the audience concurred with applause.“Also because at the same time I’m your mother, I’m your aunt, I’m your teacher, I’m your professor, you see?” Angelou added. Though the video was not shown in its entirety, Angelou later apologized to the young woman. The video sparked a huge debate about respect on Twitter with some people saying Angelou was right for putting the young girl in check and others saying she was a bit too harsh.