9t9, the Visions Choir in this piece came outta my church in Chicago. That guy sitting behind Oprah was a friend of mine. His wife was the Director of it.
I was just talking about that very thing to someone, the Obamas are two outstanding talent. And we are bless to have them as our President and First Lady.
Thanks Dudette. I will never tire of watching this. I love preparing for those you care so much about an elegant event like Ms. Oprah. To this day, I still do this. I love preparing my theme, menu etc, all of the personal touches for each guest and collective touches for all who will come to my home.
I watch it and just love and light up when I see it. I just wish I had Oprah money.(No, God has always given me the exact amount that I have needed and wanted to give the dinners, brunches, breakfasts, that I have wanted. I will take days and weeks preparing a small dinner for 6 people. I just love it. All the small details. So sit back and watch the Legend Ball again. You will see our president and First Lady in several spaces. He was then Senator Barack Obama. But still the history as well. Enjoy it. HZ
You are right, dear heart! You don’t need Oprah money, you have a heart bigger than a mountain and you share it with the world. This is your gift. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you! {{{{{{ HZ }}}}}
Dudette!!! Hhhmmmsmack -right side & left side! You deserve to have my 2nd born – can’t part with 1st born after all these years! I have been yearning to see this! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Dudette}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Okay. Okay. You gotta breathe. I understand. I’ l l l l-l-l-let g-g-go….!
(Bye for now guys – gotta focus on this gift from Dudette!)
D-ette, I THANK you from the bottom of my heart! I’m always way behind knowing what’s** out there , and when I spotted this last week, or thereabouts, I could only find snippets. NOW I’ve watched it in its entirety! I ❤ ❤ ❤ you, Dudette Sticks (gotta use Chips surname 'cause she's the matriarch)!
** I quite literally have not watched TV in decades before 2007; I don't really like movies, and I only signed on to twitter because of BHO. I've still never tried Facebook, and I'm not a music fan. IOW, I've lived basically in my own small private world, so there's a lot I miss. Not that it usually bothers me.
Girl, I feel ya! I used to be a TV junkaholic. Seriously, back in the day (admittedly before there were hundreds of channels), I could tell you what was on anytime of the day or night, who was in it and why it was or was not worth watching.
But no more of that. I guess my change in taste and patience has come with maturity. 🙂
Thanks for the Dudette Sticks moniker. I take that as the supreme compliment! I hope Chips doesn’t mind that you’ve adopted for her by proxy. We do call her Mama Chips,afterall! 😀
I’ve had a bunch of good crying sessions today after watching the memorial service and then the Legends Ball video.
Haven’t done a single thing I’d planned to do today, but I say this was indeed good for the soul! 🙂
So true, GGail, donna, and Dudette. Both, First Lady and POB were there. POB was dancing his heart out. So cute. I can watch it forever. It is so appropriate to see how we all stand, stood, and are still climbing steadily on the shoulders of the great Legends. It is so important to share with our young women of color. First Lady Michelle Obama’s spoken words at Dr. Angelou’s Celebration along with Oprah’s and others put all things in context. It was a beautiful tribute to come afterwards again and put it all in context.
I am so gloriously proud of how our beautiful First Lady and Oprah held themselves together because we do know that this had to be very emotionally tight for them to speak without breaking down. However, I felt that our First Lady spoken as usual with respect and truth that was needed to remind all of us who, how, when, where and in what ways this great woman, Dr. Maya touched all of our hearts.
From the little hearts of children, young high school young ladies, young college young ladies, and adults to move with our God given gifts to inspire, and encourage ourselves first;this too will always be a reminder of how we made it as people. And not just people of color, but people of all backgrounds to our delightful posts in life now.
I do do not apologize to anyone for what FLOTUS said; and I will Not be detracted by the “spinners of hatefulness” on their spin clown cars. Of course, FLOTUS mother first inspired her; , but a lot of people in and of the Village helped our mother, fathers, grandparents to move us on up the road to travel to a glorious and better place. That was/is the hope that lies with the like of Dr. Maya Angelou in the black and brown children and in All children who came into Dr. Angelou’ and First Lady, Michelle Obam’s space and Oprah’s space..
So. I cried when I looked at the faces of the elder Legends and the young ladies and men at The Legend’s Ball back in 2006. Looking at Kathleen Battle hugging and crying with her arms around the neck of Leontyn Price etc., this is goodness and lots of hard work and beauty coming forth allows the heart and soul to replenish itself of more goodness ready to flow to another generation of young women and young men.. So good to be alive and see our hard work come to such elegant celebrations of a life and lives presently. Good Day for all of this humanity.HZ.
It’s so good to be sharing this morning with you. I don’t normally rise at 6:00am to watch anything at 8:00. Takes me awhile to get here, but I’m glad I watched along with TOD. Now I’m going to make VC mad and step on her toes. 😉 😉 😉
Here’s our weekly drop from the Dept of the Interior (thanks for the reminder, CarolMae) ••► This Week at Interior. We have a moral responsibility to leave our planet better than we found it for future generations.
I like the fact they follow back too – though I can’t think why they’d want to follow moi. 😉 I don’t get email from them because I don’t generally click the email link from anybody since it would simply clutter up a box I never clear regularly.
Goo Morning Everyone!!!
I am just a basket case today, emotions running high….. I can’t even sum up the powerful words of our First Lady…without crying.
that little girl from south side Chicago..to become the First Lady of The Unites States… broke me down.
Amazing Grace! truly a blessing to witness.
Thank you for all the coverage ❤ Chips ❤ (hugs)
Have an Awesome Day:-)
First, thank *You*, NW, and the other bt’s for serving as our travel guide for the President’s trip to Europe this week, and for providing exceptional media coverage — especially during the D-Day ceremonies on yesterday. With this site, the MSM has become irrelevant — pretty much useless.
And today…joining everyone in the village as the life of Dr. Angelou was celebrated. Her ability to see the rainbows among the clouds — and to help us to see those rainbows — means more to us than we have even realized. Showing us that the world does not dictate to us our importance; our value. Nor should it define our beauty and self-worth. She was a true teacher…a true inspiration.
I had never seen Oprah’s “Legends Ball.” Very emotional response.
Perhaps even more so given that I watched it after listening to First Lady Obama and Oprah reflect on how profoundly Dr Angelou influenced their lives.
A new emotion emerged, as well. As some of you know, long ago I realized that I had no clue what it means to be anything other than white and male. Today affirmed that I never will.
Fortunately, girls and women and all persons of color are unrelenting in their pursuit of equality. All I can do is try to help, but never with an attitude that I understand what every single breathing moment of their lives is like.
p.s. It seemed odd to me that an exploitative white male was asked to participate in the celebration.
What amazing foresight that was, rikyah! I’m in awe too!
Think about this:
2004: There was that brash young State Senator from Illinois, running for US Senator who’d made that electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic convention!
2004: He’s elected U.S Senator
2005: Oprah invites him and his extraordinary wife to attend the Legends Ball weekend.
2006: The Legends Ball airs. Oprah’s endorsing him for President before he even declared
(according to this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey's_endorsement_of_Barack_Obama)
2007: He declares his candidacy for President.
Oprah officially endorses him (first time she’s done this for any candidate) and even stomps for him on the campaign trail.
2008: He beats Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and is elected POTUS!
Maybe Hillary should hold off on the one-hour interviews in prime time until we secure the 2014 election season for Democrats? Isn’t that more important?
Obama White House.gov
The Obama Diary 
Superb coverage.
Hi criquet! That’s TOD… best coverage. Always! 🙂
Congrats on first!
Thanks , Dudette.
Congrats criquet! 🙂
T.hanks, CMW
🙂 YW
Thank you Chips and NW for the brilliant coverage of all those who have honored Dr Angelou, today
Buon Gioro, sono qui!
Helloooooooo Bill!
Ah good! You got it! 🙂
Michelle
Bobfr-great minds think alike… but I won’t mention the other part of that adage!
They chose the perfect song to end the service!
9t9, the Visions Choir in this piece came outta my church in Chicago. That guy sitting behind Oprah was a friend of mine. His wife was the Director of it.
Awesome! They SANG that song! 🙂
You should see that whole show. It would be CHURCH all up in here on a Saturday. 😉
😀
I was just talking about that very thing to someone, the Obamas are two outstanding talent. And we are bless to have them as our President and First Lady.
Morning all.
And so Yardarm’s prediction is coming true…here we go with the media’s race-baiting…
First Lady Michelle made me start crying as I could see she was struggling to hold it together so I cried her tears.
{{{{{ GGail }}}}}
Ah, love ya GGail.
Some powerful spiritual theology in this service. And powerful love to bring it home.
Indeed, Bill R. “And powerful love to bring it home.” Yes, Yes.HZ
Love the story about Mama Angelou coming to Texas with a Prayer Posse! 😀
OWN is running the Legend’s Ball!
To die for! Love, love, love!!!!!!
Thanks Dudette. I will never tire of watching this. I love preparing for those you care so much about an elegant event like Ms. Oprah. To this day, I still do this. I love preparing my theme, menu etc, all of the personal touches for each guest and collective touches for all who will come to my home.
I watch it and just love and light up when I see it. I just wish I had Oprah money.(No, God has always given me the exact amount that I have needed and wanted to give the dinners, brunches, breakfasts, that I have wanted. I will take days and weeks preparing a small dinner for 6 people. I just love it. All the small details. So sit back and watch the Legend Ball again. You will see our president and First Lady in several spaces. He was then Senator Barack Obama. But still the history as well. Enjoy it. HZ
You are right, dear heart! You don’t need Oprah money, you have a heart bigger than a mountain and you share it with the world. This is your gift. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you! {{{{{{ HZ }}}}}
Thank you , thank you, for bringing this back. Now I can breathe again.
Dudette!!! Hhhmmmsmack -right side & left side! You deserve to have my 2nd born – can’t part with 1st born after all these years! I have been yearning to see this! {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Dudette}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}} Okay. Okay. You gotta breathe. I understand. I’ l l l l-l-l-let g-g-go….!
(Bye for now guys – gotta focus on this gift from Dudette!)
Hugging you tight right back, sister-friend! 😀
D-ette, I THANK you from the bottom of my heart! I’m always way behind knowing what’s** out there , and when I spotted this last week, or thereabouts, I could only find snippets. NOW I’ve watched it in its entirety! I ❤ ❤ ❤ you, Dudette Sticks (gotta use Chips surname 'cause she's the matriarch)!
** I quite literally have not watched TV in decades before 2007; I don't really like movies, and I only signed on to twitter because of BHO. I've still never tried Facebook, and I'm not a music fan. IOW, I've lived basically in my own small private world, so there's a lot I miss. Not that it usually bothers me.
Girl, I feel ya! I used to be a TV junkaholic. Seriously, back in the day (admittedly before there were hundreds of channels), I could tell you what was on anytime of the day or night, who was in it and why it was or was not worth watching.
But no more of that. I guess my change in taste and patience has come with maturity. 🙂
Thanks for the Dudette Sticks moniker. I take that as the supreme compliment! I hope Chips doesn’t mind that you’ve adopted for her by proxy. We do call her Mama Chips,afterall! 😀
Dudette, thank you so much for posting this!
Thanks everyone!
I’ve had a bunch of good crying sessions today after watching the memorial service and then the Legends Ball video.
Haven’t done a single thing I’d planned to do today, but I say this was indeed good for the soul! 🙂
Thank you Dudette. That is the first time I ever saw that, and I am crying right along with all the other Legends and Young’ns. Just awesome.
Thank yu …Dudette….
I’m in tears watching this for the umpteenth time!!!!
🙂 {{{ donna dem 4 obama }}}
I’d forgotten Mrs. Obama was one of the guests in attendance at this event (12:31)!!! Remember this was in 2006.
I know right!!!!!!!!!!
She looked sooooo gorgeous!
Dudette I’m watching it on TV and with every scene it just gets better and better.
I’m gonna have to leave the village, you people intend for me to cry all day! LOL!!!
Yes, this Legends Ball is especially perfect for today.
So true, GGail, donna, and Dudette. Both, First Lady and POB were there. POB was dancing his heart out. So cute. I can watch it forever. It is so appropriate to see how we all stand, stood, and are still climbing steadily on the shoulders of the great Legends. It is so important to share with our young women of color. First Lady Michelle Obama’s spoken words at Dr. Angelou’s Celebration along with Oprah’s and others put all things in context. It was a beautiful tribute to come afterwards again and put it all in context.
I am so gloriously proud of how our beautiful First Lady and Oprah held themselves together because we do know that this had to be very emotionally tight for them to speak without breaking down. However, I felt that our First Lady spoken as usual with respect and truth that was needed to remind all of us who, how, when, where and in what ways this great woman, Dr. Maya touched all of our hearts.
From the little hearts of children, young high school young ladies, young college young ladies, and adults to move with our God given gifts to inspire, and encourage ourselves first;this too will always be a reminder of how we made it as people. And not just people of color, but people of all backgrounds to our delightful posts in life now.
I do do not apologize to anyone for what FLOTUS said; and I will Not be detracted by the “spinners of hatefulness” on their spin clown cars. Of course, FLOTUS mother first inspired her; , but a lot of people in and of the Village helped our mother, fathers, grandparents to move us on up the road to travel to a glorious and better place. That was/is the hope that lies with the like of Dr. Maya Angelou in the black and brown children and in All children who came into Dr. Angelou’ and First Lady, Michelle Obam’s space and Oprah’s space..
So. I cried when I looked at the faces of the elder Legends and the young ladies and men at The Legend’s Ball back in 2006. Looking at Kathleen Battle hugging and crying with her arms around the neck of Leontyn Price etc., this is goodness and lots of hard work and beauty coming forth allows the heart and soul to replenish itself of more goodness ready to flow to another generation of young women and young men.. So good to be alive and see our hard work come to such elegant celebrations of a life and lives presently. Good Day for all of this humanity.HZ.
It’s so good to be sharing this morning with you. I don’t normally rise at 6:00am to watch anything at 8:00. Takes me awhile to get here, but I’m glad I watched along with TOD. Now I’m going to make VC mad and step on her toes. 😉 😉 😉
As Cookemom says it was a great getting up morning with you. 🙂
Here’s our weekly drop from the Dept of the Interior (thanks for the reminder, CarolMae) ••► This Week at Interior. We have a moral responsibility to leave our planet better than we found it for future generations.
Thank you. I always forget there is the weekly roundup until I get my email. It’s so cool they follow back. 🙂
I like the fact they follow back too – though I can’t think why they’d want to follow moi. 😉 I don’t get email from them because I don’t generally click the email link from anybody since it would simply clutter up a box I never clear regularly.
😉 Well I haven’t been very good about emails.
¸.•´ ♥ ☆And Still…. ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ They RISE!!!!
#MayaAngelouMemorial
Kasai
Goo Morning Everyone!!!
I am just a basket case today, emotions running high….. I can’t even sum up the powerful words of our First Lady…without crying.
that little girl from south side Chicago..to become the First Lady of The Unites States… broke me down.
Amazing Grace! truly a blessing to witness.
Thank you for all the coverage ❤ Chips ❤ (hugs)
Have an Awesome Day:-)
Me, too Kasai. Everything you said.
Yes! I couldn’t agree more!
And thank you for your lovely tweets Kasai! {{{ Kasai }}}
(((Dudette))) It is always my pleasure my friend:-)
Good Afternoon Chipsticks…TODers!
First, thank *You*, NW, and the other bt’s for serving as our travel guide for the President’s trip to Europe this week, and for providing exceptional media coverage — especially during the D-Day ceremonies on yesterday. With this site, the MSM has become irrelevant — pretty much useless.
And today…joining everyone in the village as the life of Dr. Angelou was celebrated. Her ability to see the rainbows among the clouds — and to help us to see those rainbows — means more to us than we have even realized. Showing us that the world does not dictate to us our importance; our value. Nor should it define our beauty and self-worth. She was a true teacher…a true inspiration.
Beautiful truth, said beautifully, swbluega!
Dr. Maya said this at the Legends Luncheon…
Moved beyond words by this incredible celebration of life.
Thank you so much Chips and NW for your excellent coverage of Dr. Maya Angelou’s Homecoming, love this name, Memorial Service.
Dudette they just showed PBO dancing with FLOTUS. Sqeeeellll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s really inspiring to see all these legends in one place…
I jumped out of my seat when they started passing the mic!!!!
I know!!! Squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!
Thought I might as well list sightings of Future POTUS & FLOTUS in the Legends video (I might’ve missed a couple more:
Future FLOTUS greets Oprah at the luncheon 12:31
Future POTUS & FLOTUS pose with Oprah 28:15
Future FLOTUS standing beside Oprah at the Ball reading the poem “We Speak Your Name” 30:52-31:05
Future POTUS dancing at 33:03
Future POTUS & FLOTUS dancing 33:24, 33:38
You are the reason I’m here peelin’ a truck load of onions. bwaaaaa!
{{{{{ Yardarm756 }}}}}
GA, TOD! Dipping in for a hot second; at the PA Women Veterans Conference in Pittsburgh.
Special request, if available, could someone post a link to the complete memorial video. I missed it all. Thanks
We got you! 🙂
http://new.livestream.com/wfu/angelou
Thank you Dudette for the heads up. What an inspiring show!
What a joy it was to watch that again! 🙂
I had never seen Oprah’s “Legends Ball.” Very emotional response.
Perhaps even more so given that I watched it after listening to First Lady Obama and Oprah reflect on how profoundly Dr Angelou influenced their lives.
A new emotion emerged, as well. As some of you know, long ago I realized that I had no clue what it means to be anything other than white and male. Today affirmed that I never will.
Fortunately, girls and women and all persons of color are unrelenting in their pursuit of equality. All I can do is try to help, but never with an attitude that I understand what every single breathing moment of their lives is like.
p.s. It seemed odd to me that an exploitative white male was asked to participate in the celebration.
{{{{{ Bobfr }}}}}
Bob, we thank you and truly admire you for your honesty, empathy and most of all your support in our never ending quest for equality.
THIS to infinity!!!!!!
THIS!!! Thanks Bobfr.
Thank you, COS.
I second your sentiment Gail..
If there were enough people like Bob…Our world would be a much better place…
Thank you Bob.
Thank you Kasai, very much.
Thank you Dudette and Gail.
Thanks Bob for sharing your sincere reflections with us. It’s an honor to have you on this blog!!! 🙂 🙂 #Forward.
Very kind of you, hf. It really hit me quite hard today just how unjustly privileged it is to be white and male.
Thank you so much, Bob.
Thank you for being willing to listen and also to help.
I love you Bob. That’s all.
I don’t think I could possibly love Pearl Cleage anymore than I have and do… forever!
Author Pearl Cleage performs her praise poem “We Speak Your Name” at the Genesee District Library’s 2010 Black History Month Brunch.
The ceremony in it’s entirety is available
http://new.livestream.com/wfu/angelou
She is Love!
Kasai, that’s beautiful ❤
Thank you Gail…
(Hugs)
Girl, you shine bright like a diamond! Thank you Kasai!
So kind of you. Thank you Dudette..
Lovely, Kasai!!!!
Thank you Bob…
what I remember about the Legends Ball is that Oprah invited Michelle Obama to it.
OPRAH KNEW!!
Remember, this was in 2005…and OPRAH KNEW…that Michelle Obama would be the first Black First Lady of the United States.
I am still awed by that.
What amazing foresight that was, rikyah! I’m in awe too!
Think about this:
2004: There was that brash young State Senator from Illinois, running for US Senator who’d made that electrifying speech at the 2004 Democratic convention!
2004: He’s elected U.S Senator
2005: Oprah invites him and his extraordinary wife to attend the Legends Ball weekend.
2006: The Legends Ball airs. Oprah’s endorsing him for President before he even declared
(according to this wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oprah_Winfrey's_endorsement_of_Barack_Obama)
2007: He declares his candidacy for President.
Oprah officially endorses him (first time she’s done this for any candidate) and even stomps for him on the campaign trail.
2008: He beats Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and is elected POTUS!
Wow!
God help us!
Gag.
Ugh!
Maybe Hillary should hold off on the one-hour interviews in prime time until we secure the 2014 election season for Democrats? Isn’t that more important?
He has no chance against Warner. He is the most popular politician in Virginia. It’s been that way since he got elected Governor.
Oh dear…
New post:
http://theobamadiary.com/2014/06/07/the-warmest-of-tributes/