MAYA ANGELOU CRITICIZES EDITED PASSAGE ON KING MEMORIAL: "EACH WORD HE SPOKE WAS CHOSEN CAREFULLY."
CNN, September 3, 2011--Celebrated poet and author Maya Angelou continued her criticism of the inscription etched on the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, saying an edit of the civil rights leader's statement makes him appear arrogant.
The new memorial, which was unveiled in August, has many of King's quotes on it. Angelou criticize one of the inscriptions earlier this week and continued the critic in an interview with CNN's T.J. Holmes Saturday.
One of the inscriptions reads: "I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness."
Angelou says the passage was edited from a 1968 sermon and an important clause was taken out.
King's original words were: "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
Leaving out the "if" changes the meaning, Angelou said.
"It should not be seen like he was so full of himself. Because he was not. He was a very humble man," she said. "It is not an apt reportage of what Dr. King said. It is an edited statement."
Angelou said she hoped the inscription can be changed at some point.
"My desire to have it changed is for the honesty, the reality of the man. So he can be seen as he really was," Angelou said.
The new memorial, which was unveiled in August, has many of King's quotes on it. Angelou criticize one of the inscriptions earlier this week and continued the critic in an interview with CNN's T.J. Holmes Saturday.
One of the inscriptions reads: "I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness."
Angelou says the passage was edited from a 1968 sermon and an important clause was taken out.
King's original words were: "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
Leaving out the "if" changes the meaning, Angelou said.
"It should not be seen like he was so full of himself. Because he was not. He was a very humble man," she said. "It is not an apt reportage of what Dr. King said. It is an edited statement."
Angelou said she hoped the inscription can be changed at some point.
"My desire to have it changed is for the honesty, the reality of the man. So he can be seen as he really was," Angelou said.
This shows the high significance of words.
"Words are mirrors to a man's soul," Maya Angelou said. And she is right.
That is why it is so important that we use the right words.