It is fair to say that Maya Angelou elevated the dialogue and aspirations of The Roeper Gala and Golden Apple Awards when she honored us as featured speaker and Golden Apple Award recipient in September 1993. In tones so eloquent her soul whispered, Maya Angelou touched on love, and requested it despite racial differences. Despite religious difference. Despite hardships. She inspired us. Just as she had earlier captivated the world during the Inaugural Ceremony for President Clinton, where she presented her impassioned, “On the Pulse of the Morning” poem. In addition, she joined a formidable legion of women of her generation that evening of The Gala and Golden Apple Awards. They included Roeper School co-founder Annemarie Roeper; civil rights icon Rosa Parks and the illustrious Norma Carter, who taught dance, fencing movement at the Roeper School for more than 40 years. Today we join the world in mourning the loss of Maya Angelou, but count ourselves tremendously fortunate to have shared that special moment twenty years ago.
Posted on: Wed, 28 May 2014 18:05:48 +0000