Happy Friday! It's time to frolic!
Today, I'm honoring two Americans who have contributed greatly to the world and to my personal growth and happiness in life.
Both of them were born on April 4.
Marguerite Ann Johnson
AKA Maya Angelou is an American poet, civil rights activist, dancer, film producer, television producer, playwright, film director, author, actress, and professor. She has published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than fifty years. She is the first African American female Poet Laureate for the United States.
I first came to know her work when I was 8 years old. I read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", and it profoundly affected my views on life and people. I strongly believe it was my inoculation against prejudice in a world where everyone around me was filled with bigotry and white privilege.
Oprah Winfrey recently interviewed Maya Angelou on her Super Soul Sunday show on OWN network. Here is an excerpt:
I like what she says about keeping your sacred space, and also when someone tells you who they are, believe them. I learned that last year. I encountered someone who bragged about "being a bitch" (her words) and who took pride in tearing others down, and generally being a mean person. She really meant it, but I didn't believe her. I thought she was a nice person who just put on a facade. I gave her access to a major project I was working on. She got mad at two other people on the project and chose to take it out on me by posting on Facebook as my project's name, hacking the project's email account, and attempting to hack its twitter account. When confronted, she had no remorse whatsoever. Maya Angelou was right- believe them.
I also love how she defines "forgiveness" here, as it is how I've seen that act myself. To forgive is to release- for your own sake, and not for the offender's... and it means you are saying, "Get out of my life. Go away." YES. EXACTLY.
I wish Ms. Angelou a very Happy Birthday and thank her for all of her wisdom and contribution to the world and to my life, personally.
My next tribute is to an amazing American musician and songwriter who never really got the recognition he deserved.
McKinley Morganfield
Aka "Muddy Waters" was an American blues musician. He is considered the "father of modern Chicago blues" and was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion of the 1960s. He was born on April 4th in 1913, 1914 or 1915- no one is sure.
His influence is tremendous, over a variety of music genres: blues, rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, hard rock, folk, jazz, and country. He also helped Chuck Berry get his first record contract.
The Rolling Stones named themselves after his 1950 song "Rollin' Stone" (also known as "Catfish Blues", which Jimi Hendrix covered as well). The magazine Rolling Stone also took its name from the same song. Hendrix recalled "the first guitar player I was aware of was Muddy Waters. I first heard him as a little boy and it scared me to death".
He was a major influence over Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" is lyrically based on Waters's song "You Need Love". Angus Young of AC/DC also cited Muddy Waters as a major influence, and their song, "You Shook Me All Night Long" came from lyrics of the Muddy Waters song "You Shook Me". The song "Come Together" by The Beatles references Muddy Waters: "He roller coaster/he got Muddy Waters."
The list goes on. He was a major contributor and influencer of the world's music. He died in 1983 at the age of 70 (if you go by 1913 as his birth year).
I honor him today by sharing my favorite Muddy Waters song with you:
Today, I'm honoring two Americans who have contributed greatly to the world and to my personal growth and happiness in life.
Both of them were born on April 4.
Marguerite Ann Johnson
AKA Maya Angelou is an American poet, civil rights activist, dancer, film producer, television producer, playwright, film director, author, actress, and professor. She has published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning more than fifty years. She is the first African American female Poet Laureate for the United States.
I first came to know her work when I was 8 years old. I read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", and it profoundly affected my views on life and people. I strongly believe it was my inoculation against prejudice in a world where everyone around me was filled with bigotry and white privilege.
Oprah Winfrey recently interviewed Maya Angelou on her Super Soul Sunday show on OWN network. Here is an excerpt:
I like what she says about keeping your sacred space, and also when someone tells you who they are, believe them. I learned that last year. I encountered someone who bragged about "being a bitch" (her words) and who took pride in tearing others down, and generally being a mean person. She really meant it, but I didn't believe her. I thought she was a nice person who just put on a facade. I gave her access to a major project I was working on. She got mad at two other people on the project and chose to take it out on me by posting on Facebook as my project's name, hacking the project's email account, and attempting to hack its twitter account. When confronted, she had no remorse whatsoever. Maya Angelou was right- believe them.
I also love how she defines "forgiveness" here, as it is how I've seen that act myself. To forgive is to release- for your own sake, and not for the offender's... and it means you are saying, "Get out of my life. Go away." YES. EXACTLY.
I wish Ms. Angelou a very Happy Birthday and thank her for all of her wisdom and contribution to the world and to my life, personally.
My next tribute is to an amazing American musician and songwriter who never really got the recognition he deserved.
McKinley Morganfield
Aka "Muddy Waters" was an American blues musician. He is considered the "father of modern Chicago blues" and was a major inspiration for the British blues explosion of the 1960s. He was born on April 4th in 1913, 1914 or 1915- no one is sure.
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His influence is tremendous, over a variety of music genres: blues, rhythm and blues, rock 'n' roll, hard rock, folk, jazz, and country. He also helped Chuck Berry get his first record contract.
The Rolling Stones named themselves after his 1950 song "Rollin' Stone" (also known as "Catfish Blues", which Jimi Hendrix covered as well). The magazine Rolling Stone also took its name from the same song. Hendrix recalled "the first guitar player I was aware of was Muddy Waters. I first heard him as a little boy and it scared me to death".
He was a major influence over Eric Clapton, and Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love" is lyrically based on Waters's song "You Need Love". Angus Young of AC/DC also cited Muddy Waters as a major influence, and their song, "You Shook Me All Night Long" came from lyrics of the Muddy Waters song "You Shook Me". The song "Come Together" by The Beatles references Muddy Waters: "He roller coaster/he got Muddy Waters."
The list goes on. He was a major contributor and influencer of the world's music. He died in 1983 at the age of 70 (if you go by 1913 as his birth year).
I honor him today by sharing my favorite Muddy Waters song with you:
Happy Friday! Happy Weekend, everyone!