In The Spirit of GOTV! Maya Angelou receives the Medal of Freedom Honor and a kiss from PBO

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6. Maya Angelou, our national treasure, a beautiful human being

and magnificent poet and author. I saw her in person three times, listening to her recite some of her poetry moved me to tears. I have read most of her books, and can recite much of her poetry from memory.

I felt very connected to her because of the terrible racism she and her grandmother experienced growing up in Stamps, AK. The child in me, connected with the child in her, and how hurtful those racist actions and words must have been to her.

We are all so blessed that she "found her voice" after not speaking for five years when she was a child, the results of a terrible rape by a friend of her Mother's and his subsequent murder, leaving Maya feeling responsible for his death.