Kory and Kelly

On Wednesday night, I got to meet Maya Angelou! One of the student groups we advise paid beaucoup dinero to bring her in to speak (to an theater full of students as well as a lecture hall full in a remote viewing location). I was there in my normal capacity of photographer, but only a privileged few were supposed to actually meet her. For some reason, they changed the location of the private “meet and greet” and asked me to come take pictures!

Dr. Angelou said in her speech she was six feet tall, but she arrived in a wheelchair so it wasn’t readily apparent. What I marked most about her was her voice. It’s a very deep voice, and she speaks very deliberately with the rare accent of forties movie stars. She insisted on meeting everyone, shaking their hand, and learning their name before the picture-taking began; however, as the mere photographer, I was still surprised to be included. She shook my hand and repeated my name, “Mrs. Kilgore.” Then later during a break between photo groups she told me I “really [was] startlingly beautiful!”

The speech was great, and though we were only allowed to take pictures for the first five minutes, I did get several good shots. Some poor soul in the third row took out their camera later on in the speech and Maya not only called them out and pointed at them, she went on a ten-minute long tangent about how not to treat your guests before resuming her scripted narrative. I was glad my cameras were safely on the floor beside me. Maya is a very dignified and imperious lady, and everyone was just glad she hadn’t walked offstage (as it was in her contract she could, if someone violated the camera rule).

All in all, it was very exciting. If you’d like to see the pictures, email me and I’ll send you the link.