Maya Angelou Meant So Much To Her

In an incredibly touching statement, Oprah has addressed Dr. Maya Angelou's death. Oprah and Angelou had a very close relationship that extended beyond a friendship and it's clear in her remarks that the poet meant the world to her. In fact, Angelou's ability to inspire was in part what helped Oprah become the empowering woman she is today.

Angelou was actually Oprah's mentor, and Oprah referred to her not only as that, but as her mother/sister, as she was someone Oprah looked up to and to whom she felt a bond that was so incredibly strong. Much like Oprah's rough childhood, Angelou also had a tough beginning, facing hardship, rape, and financial struggles. Angelou went on to rise above her troubled past and not only become a Poet Laureate — a very renowned figure in the literary field — but an activist, actress, and more. Oprah followed suit, succeeding in many mediums, and similarly spoke to women who needed an inspiring voice. Angelou appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show multiple times throughout its 25 years on the air, which only serves as a testament to their bond, and to how much Oprah valued Angelou's wisdom.

Oprah's words regarding her mentor and friend's death are beautiful, and only affirm what an inspiring woman Angelou was.

I’ve been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister, and friend since my 20’s [...] She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet but at the heart of her, she was a teacher. ‘When you learn, teach. When you get, give’ is one of my best lessons from her. She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration. But what stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life. She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace. I loved her and I know she loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my clouds.

May Maya Angelou rest in peace.