What Maya Angelou Said to Me in 2005

I received a few requests to provide a more details about this photo, which was included in a talk I gave last weekend to the University of California, Berkeley pre-med students. It is from my commencement at Michigan State University in 2005.

I am standing next to Maya Angelou, the poet, in the photograph. At the time, she was 76 and I was 22. Ms Angelou had difficulty standing for prolonged periods by that time, and sat on on a stool, when I spoke with her before the ceremony. When the photographer came to take our photo, I leaned down towards her.

“Stand up straight, son” she said quickly.

I did as instructed.

“It’s ok; I understand. In the warmth of the moment, you feel the urge to lean in, but I promise you that years from now you will look at this photo, and think, ‘now, why didn’t I stand up straight?’” she said.

“Thank you,” I said, straightening up

“Lean for no man, Son, and bow only to God,” she told me, and I legitimately wondering if someone was writing this down.

The photographer snapped the picture

For interested readers, I attach a copy of my speech, given 18 years ago.

Hi-res link below