Tag Archives: Maya Angelou

The first duty of the novelist is to entertain.

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

“The first duty of the novelist is to entertain. It is a moral duty. People who read your books are sick, sad, traveling, in the hospital waiting room while someone is dying. Books are written by the alone for the … Continue reading →

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We Wear the Mask

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Brian D. Butler

We wear the mask NB: If the video fails to launch please click here. We wear the mask that grins and lies. It shades our cheeks and hides our eyes. This debt we pay to human guile With torn and … Continue reading →

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When Great Trees Fall

Posted on December 4, 2019 by Brian D. Butler

Maya Angelou wrote the poem “When Great Trees Fall” when James Baldwin died in December of 1987, and read the poem at his funeral… “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, … Continue reading →

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Maya Angelou : Phenomenal Woman

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

British singer-songwriter Laura Mvula recently released a fabulous music video of her song “Phenomenal Woman”, which is based on an amazing poem by the late, great Maya Angelou. The original poem can be found in one of my favorite Maya … Continue reading →

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Black Books Matter

Posted on February 8, 2016 by Brian D. Butler

In honor of Black History Month, the National Book Foundation has published a timeline of National Book Award honorees.

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There’s No Mystique

Posted on May 29, 2014 by Brian D. Butler

There is, I hope, a thesis in my work: we may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. That sounds goody-two-shoes, I know, but I believe that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure and time. Less … Continue reading →

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