African-American ‘giants’ more than meet Medal of Freedom standard

Rep. John Lewis, Maya Angelou and Bill Russell (AP Photo)

Rep. John Lewis, Maya Angelou and Bill Russell (AP Photo)

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Collectively, Maya Angelou, John Lewis and Bill Russell represent the very best of the American spirit. They won their future — and created a better today — with steely determination, an abiding faith, uncommon courage and a burning desire to make America true to its promise.

Their life’s work prove that a better, brighter future does not just happen. It’s ours to create.

via The Grio

Maya Angelou: It’s time to lift America’s spirit

Maya Angelou

…you have to continue to prepare yourself, continue to build yourself, continue to elevate yourself and be a benefit, be a blessing rather than a curse, and things will get better. And they have, so when I think of Dr. King and Malcolm, Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, I also think of Chief Albert Luthuli, one of the first Africans to earn the Nobel Prize.I mean that after Chief Luthuli, apartheid was so rigid, unbreakable that men had to carry their IDs on plastic cards that were too large for any suit, so they flapped, reminding them constantly who they were. It was my blessing to meet Nelson Mandela before he went into prison and I’ve seen him many times since. He knew this day would come, and to be able to stay in prison for 27 years, knowing that the day would come.

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