126 Responses to “First Lady at Dr Maya Angelou Memorial Service”


  1. 1 criquet
    June 7, 2025 at 12:52 pm

    Superb coverage.

  2. 7 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
    June 7, 2025 at 12:52 pm

    Thank you Chips and NW for the brilliant coverage of all those who have honored Dr Angelou, today

  3. 8 Bill R.
    June 7, 2025 at 12:52 pm

    Buon Gioro, sono qui!

  4. 10 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 12:52 pm

    Ah good! You got it! :-)

  5. 11 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 12:53 pm

  6. 12 HOPE44
    June 7, 2025 at 12:53 pm

    Michelle

  7. 13 criquet
    June 7, 2025 at 12:54 pm

    Bobfr-great minds think alike… but I won’t mention the other part of that adage!

  8. 14 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 12:54 pm

    They chose the perfect song to end the service!

  9. 19 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 12:58 pm

    • 20 anniebella
      June 7, 2025 at 1:19 pm

      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.

  10. 21 Liberal Librarian
    June 7, 2025 at 12:59 pm

    Morning all.

  11. 22 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 12:59 pm

  12. 23 hopefruit2
    June 7, 2025 at 12:59 pm

    And so Yardarm’s prediction is coming true…here we go with the media’s race-baiting…

  13. 24 GGail
    June 7, 2025 at 1:01 pm

    First Lady Michelle made me start crying as I could see she was struggling to hold it together so I cried her tears.

  14. 27 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 1:01 pm

  15. 28 Bill R.
    June 7, 2025 at 1:01 pm

    Some powerful spiritual theology in this service. And powerful love to bring it home.

  16. 32 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 1:03 pm

    OWN is running the Legend’s Ball!
    To die for! Love, love, love!!!!!!

      • 34 HZ
        June 7, 2025 at 1:18 pm

        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

        • 35 Dudette
          June 7, 2025 at 3:00 pm

          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 }}}}}

      • 36 vetivera24
        June 7, 2025 at 2:24 pm

        Thank you , thank you, for bringing this back. Now I can breathe again.

      • 37 vcprezofan2
        June 7, 2025 at 2:38 pm

        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!)

        • 38 Dudette
          June 7, 2025 at 2:58 pm

          Hugging you tight right back, sister-friend! :-D

          • 39 vcprezofan2
            June 7, 2025 at 3:22 pm

            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 <3 <3 <3 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.

            • 40 Dudette
              June 7, 2025 at 3:39 pm

              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! :-D

      • 41 sjterrid
        June 7, 2025 at 2:38 pm

        Dudette, thank you so much for posting this!

      • 42 Dudette
        June 7, 2025 at 2:57 pm

        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! :-)

      • 43 Roberta in MN
        June 7, 2025 at 3:45 pm

        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.

      • 44 prettyfoot58
        June 7, 2025 at 6:51 pm

        Thank yu …Dudette….

    • 45 donna dem 4 obama
      June 7, 2025 at 1:15 pm

      I’m in tears watching this for the umpteenth time!!!!

      • 46 Dudette
        June 7, 2025 at 1:16 pm

        :-) {{{ donna dem 4 obama }}}

      • 47 Dudette
        June 7, 2025 at 1:24 pm

        I’d forgotten Mrs. Obama was one of the guests in attendance at this event (12:31)!!! Remember this was in 2006.

        • 48 donna dem 4 obama
          June 7, 2025 at 1:30 pm

          I know right!!!!!!!!!!

        • 50 donna dem 4 obama
          June 7, 2025 at 1:36 pm

          Dudette I’m watching it on TV and with every scene it just gets better and better.

          • 51 GGail
            June 7, 2025 at 2:26 pm

            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.

            • 52 HZ
              June 7, 2025 at 4:52 pm

              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.

  17. June 7, 2025 at 1:08 pm

  18. 54 hopefruit2
    June 7, 2025 at 1:12 pm

  19. 55 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 1:15 pm

  20. 59 hopefruit2
    June 7, 2025 at 1:20 pm

  21. 60 CarolMaeWY
    June 7, 2025 at 1:23 pm

    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. ;) ;) ;)

    • 61 CarolMaeWY
      June 7, 2025 at 1:24 pm

      As Cookemom says it was a great getting up morning with you. :)

    • 62 vcprezofan2
      June 7, 2025 at 4:03 pm

      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.

      • 63 CarolMaeWY
        June 7, 2025 at 4:08 pm

        Thank you. I always forget there is the weekly roundup until I get my email. It’s so cool they follow back. :)

        • 64 vcprezofan2
          June 7, 2025 at 4:16 pm

          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.

  22. 66 CarolMaeWY
    June 7, 2025 at 1:26 pm

    ¸.•´ ♥ ☆And Still…. ♥ `•.¸.•´ ♥ º ☆.¸¸.•´¯`♥ They RISE!!!!

    #MayaAngelouMemorial
    Kasai

  23. 67 kasai
    June 7, 2025 at 1:27 pm

    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 <3 Chips <3 (hugs)
    Have an Awesome Day:-)

  24. June 7, 2025 at 1:27 pm

    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.

  25. 73 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 1:28 pm

    • 74 Dudette
      June 7, 2025 at 1:47 pm

      Dr. Maya said this at the Legends Luncheon…

    • 75 Dudette
      June 7, 2025 at 2:36 pm

  26. 76 vetivera24
    June 7, 2025 at 1:34 pm

    Moved beyond words by this incredible celebration of life.

  27. 77 sjterrid
    June 7, 2025 at 1:37 pm

    Thank you so much Chips and NW for your excellent coverage of Dr. Maya Angelou’s Homecoming, love this name, Memorial Service.

  28. 78 donna dem 4 obama
    June 7, 2025 at 1:44 pm

    Dudette they just showed PBO dancing with FLOTUS. Sqeeeellll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • 79 hopefruit2
      June 7, 2025 at 1:49 pm

      It’s really inspiring to see all these legends in one place…

    • 81 Dudette
      June 7, 2025 at 1:56 pm

      I know!!! Squeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

    • 82 Dudette
      June 7, 2025 at 2:21 pm

      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

  29. 85 Alycee (@jazziz2)
    June 7, 2025 at 2:02 pm

    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

  30. 87 donna dem 4 obama
    June 7, 2025 at 2:14 pm

    Thank you Dudette for the heads up. What an inspiring show!

  31. 89 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
    June 7, 2025 at 2:21 pm

    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.

  32. 102 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 2:26 pm

    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.

  33. 103 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
    June 7, 2025 at 2:41 pm

    • 104 Bobfr (@Our4thEstate)
      June 7, 2025 at 2:42 pm

  34. 105 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 2:41 pm

  35. 106 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 2:42 pm

    The ceremony in it’s entirety is available

    http://new.livestream.com/wfu/angelou

  36. 107 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 2:45 pm

  37. 108 kasai
    June 7, 2025 at 2:50 pm

    She is Love!

  38. 115 Jovie
    June 7, 2025 at 2:55 pm

  39. June 7, 2025 at 2:56 pm

    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.

    • 117 Dudette
      June 7, 2025 at 3:16 pm

      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!

  40. 118 Jovie
    June 7, 2025 at 3:09 pm

    God help us!

  41. 123 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 3:24 pm

    Oh dear…

  42. 124 Dudette
    June 7, 2025 at 3:31 pm

    • 125 jacquelineoboomer
      June 7, 2025 at 3:48 pm


Comments are currently closed.

@POTUS

@BarackObama

@WhiteHouse

@FLOTUS

@blog44

@PeteSouza

Enter your email address to receive notifications of new posts by email.

@TheObamaDiary

@NerdyWonka

@Lib_Librarian

@Our4thEstate

@DaRiverZkind

@zizii2

RSS White House.gov

  • Why Diplomacy Matters: Follow Along as the President Heads to the 70th UN General Assembly
  • Follow Along: Tomorrow is Back to the Future Day
  • The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden Congratulate the 2015 USO Honorees
  • Email from Jay Pharoah: "You better make room"
  • WEEKLY ADDRESS: Working for Meaningful Criminal Justice Reform

RSS WH Tumblr

  • Great Scott! It’s almost #BackToTheFutureDay. We’ll...
  • President Obama Calls the International Space Station
  • We have a moral obligation to act on climate. Follow...
  • Astronomy Night at the White House
  • “We need to inspire more young people to ask about the...

RSS The People’s View

  • The Problem with Sanctuary Cities and the Bigger Problem of GOP's Racist Overreach Spandan Chakrabarti
  • The Beginning of the End of Bernie Sanders Spandan Chakrabarti
  • My Personal Experience with the Authoritarian Mind and why I Have Hope Nancy the Artist
  • The Choice Trevor LaFauci
  • Is GOP Establishment Intentionally Undermining Benghazi Committee? Spandan Chakrabarti

RSS Smartypants

  • "This is a No-Brainer...It's Just Math"
  • An Explanation for Why Trump is Ahead Right Now
  • Yglesias Gets it Wrong About Which Party is in Trouble
  • Why Jeb Bush is in Trouble (updated)
  • Elizabeth Warren: Glass-Steagall as Symbol

RSS A Writing Corner (LL)

  • #Pixels: A sign of the Apocalypse?
  • Annals in “WTH Were You Thinking??” – Potty Training
  • For the young lady and her love of Seamus Heaney
  • On compassion
  • A Mass for the Dead

RSS Greg Sargent

  • Happy Hour Roundup
  • What Hillary’s claim that Republicans are her ‘enemies’ is really about
  • Are Republican voters going to come to their senses about Donald Trump?
  • Morning Plum: No, Paul Ryan probably can’t ‘unify’ the Republican Party
  • Happy Hour Roundup

RSS Steve Benen

  • Will House Republicans accept Paul Ryan's terms?
  • Trump electable? and other headlines
  • Source of illegal death penalty drugs exposed
  • Trump dominance makes him a target of GOP, Graham succeeds in cracking 0%
  • Paul Ryan sets condition of unified GOP support to run for speaker

Categories

Archives

Blog Stats

  • 32,887,907 hits

WH Flickr

P091815PS-0492

P022114PS-0888

P010615PS-0373

P010615PS-0599

P010715PS-0718

P010715LJ-0309

P010815PS-0008

P010815PS-0171

P010815CK-0068

P010915PS-0040

More Photos

%d bloggers like this: