james baldwin, of course. shakespeare, of course. john killings. books meant to as much to me. spent seven years of my life as a mute. but i read. i read everything. and i memorized everything. so many writers i just -- it's -- and they still inform my life. >> books not only helped her gain her voice but transformed her past, encouraged by her good friend james baldwin he ask wrote her first novel, the u toe biographical "i know why the caged bi caged bird sings" in 1968. since then she's written everything from poems to children's books to cookbooks. in 1992, her poetry reached millions of americans at president bill clinton's inauguration. >> across the wall of the world of river things sings a beautiful song and it says, come, rest here by my side. >> and while her writing continues to inspire audiences of all generations, her impact doesn't end there. you spent your life helping others, reaching out, supporting and including me. why do you do that? what motivates you inside? with your celebrity status that you feel you still need to reach back? >> i owe it to another perso

it was in 1969 she was encouraged by the author james baldwin among others to focus on her writing.thus was born "i know why the caged bird sings." in 1993, maya angelou recited her poem "on the pulse of the morning" at bill clinton's inauguration. she was the first poet to make inaugural cetacean since robert frost at john f. kennedy's inauguration in 1961. resident clinton spoke at saturday's memorial. >> i loved maya. the last time we were together was just a couple of weeks ago at the lbj library in austin. they were having a 50th anniversary of the signing of the civil rights movement. i gave my little talk and we , and it wasis lunch like a political version of the "antiques roadshow." [laughter] bill russell came up and hug me and reminded me how short i was. i looked over and there was maya. i went over to her and hugged her and said, i cannot believe that you have gotten yourself here. because i am just wheelchair-bound, doesn't mean i don't get around. [laughter] [applause] that is the first thing i want to say, that girl got around. [laughter] let me tell you how this all

political activist james baldwin once said children have never been very good at listening to their elders. they have never failed to imitate them. i think this holds true for the party. sometimes life is busy. the struggles of day-to-day can get as down or we get wrapped up in our own affairs that we can get tunnel vision. -- we can think this is the first time something is being done. a problem is arising or a battle is being fought. the battle and struggle for the end of capitalist exploitation and for society based on the quality has been a battle that the communist party has been waging for 95 years. [applause] taken onattle that has many forms. it is a culmination of issues. this is a battle that has gone on for some time and we have elders, people in this very room and around the country, weapon fighting for decades and continue to fight. we can at least hope in some ways to imitate their strength and resilience. to be able to have similar life lessons they had entity able to help contribute to the rich legacy of the party as they have as well. ok. all right. ok. we have some of the