I was impressed by a statement that Maya Angelou made when she was asked why she was willing to stand beside an individual who had used an offensive term that she particularly opposed. She replied, to the effect, that there are plenty of folks out there looking to tear down our brothers and sisters and that her aim (outside of speaking out against those things she objected to) was to promote unity in her community. Therefore, she said, she didn't see any need to alienate that individual and would continue to embrace and regard them as a fellow human.
"I will not be divided from ******, she said.
"If you want to control the people, separate the people and you can rule them. Divide them and you can conquer them. I will not be divided from ******," said Dr. Maya Angelou said as she quoted Niccolo Machiavelli.
entire statement:
"I know that we are all in process and young artists are in process. It’s important to realize that all of you – all of us – are in process. There was a statement made by Machiavelli in the 15th century. He said if you want to control the people, separate them, and you can rule them. Divide them and you can conquer them. I will not be divided from ******. By anybody’s imagination, he is brilliant and even genius, maybe. But certainly smarter than us to know that he’s in process. And next week, he might not even use the N-word, or the B-word. It may even take two or three weeks, or a month. But I’m not going to be separated from him…"
“Do your best to not be divided. This doesn’t mean you are supposed to support everything anybody says. Say “I disagree, but I don’t disagree to the point where I want you dead and out of here.” You must understand that, people, we live in direct relation to the heroes and sheroes we have. Always and in always if we don’t have heroes and sheroes and keep them alive, we are nothing.“
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