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In reply to the discussion: Name a successful Woman of Color [View all]Eliot Rosewater
(31,255 posts)39. The great one: Maya Angelou
poet Maya Angelou #1 on top 500 poets Poet's PagePoemsQuotesCommentsStatsE-BooksBiographyVideosShare
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Maya Angelou
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
Maya Angelou
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Beyonce earned the money. She can buy whatever the hell she wants. Why does that anger some?
brush
Aug 2017
#68
To start with, Barbara Lee, the proud progressive congresswoman from Berkeley.
Ken Burch
Aug 2017
#59
I so admired her, and mourned her untimely departure from both politics and this earth. nt
Hekate
Aug 2017
#172
I know many personally. But I think you mean "successful, FAMOUS or PROMINENT woman of color."
pnwmom
Aug 2017
#73
Oops. Well Bill Clinton was the first Black President and Hillary is his wife.
Blue_true
Aug 2017
#130
Don't see her listed here--I may have missed it--but I'll add Diahann Carroll.
Different Drummer
Aug 2017
#103
I could name a gazillion jazz and blues singers, opera singers, orchestra section players..
pangaia
Aug 2017
#126
Here's to our wives, and all the successful smart strong beautiful women of color.
yardwork
Aug 2017
#194
Dakota Staton, Minnie Ripperton and her daughter Maya Rudolf are some of my quirky faves.
bettyellen
Aug 2017
#163
Thank you for this! I remember her from 2004 and she was a terrific candidate
Rhiannon12866
Aug 2017
#229