Monday, Dec. 25, 2006

Coretta Scott King

Coretta Scott King and I decided 30 years ago that we would be sister friends. Although she did not think so, she was incredibly complex. Despite the heart-wrenching experiences she had lived through and overcome, she always appeared contained. Her shoulders were straight, her makeup flawless, and her face was serene. We often held hands in public, and when circumstances began to make her uncomfortable, she would squeeze my hand until it hurt, but her face would never change. She seemed to be above and beyond the ordinary things of the world.

Angelou is a writer and civil rights activist