Go Lean…Caribbean

Go Lean Commentary

“That a powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse” – poet Walt Whitman: “O Me! O Life!”

The world mourns the passing of Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014; age 86). She contributed more than a verse to the powerful play of modern life. She is known for her contribution to all of the humanities.

Humanities? That’s a different word; extraordinary in its use as a wide-angle view in the study of humankind. Extraordinary, “wide-angle view”, all fitting descriptors for the contributions of Maya Angelou – see the bibliography/filmography below. Here’s the text book definition of the word “humanities” (www.Dictionary.com):

noun, plural hu·man·i·ties.

1. all human beings collectively; the human race; humankind.

2. the quality or condition of being human; human nature.

3. the quality of being humane; kindness; benevolence.

4. the humanities.

a. the study of classical languages and classical literature.
b. the Latin and Greek classics as a field of study.
c. literature, [poetry], philosophy, art, etc., as distinguished from the natural sciences.
d. the study of literature, poetry, philosophy, art, etc.

Maya Angelou impacted the world of the humanities with her contributions. She was awarded over 30 honorary Doctor of Humanities degrees from diverse colleges and universities around the world. In addition to Dr. Angelou’s contribution to the humanities, she was also a strong proponent for empowerment. She spoke and wrote profound words/works on the need for people to empower themselves, to seek more out of life, to live more vibrant, fulfilled lives, to be critical thinkers and proactive doers in their journey for a more impactful life.

The publishers of the book Go Lean…Caribbean recognize the life contributions of Maya Angelou as an advocate, as many of her causes align with our quest for empowerment and elevation of Caribbean life and culture. The book serves as a roadmap for the introduction and implementation of the Caribbean Union Trade Federation (CU).

The Go Lean/CU movement shares a linkage with this focus of Dr. Angelou. (She was due to appear at the Orpheum Theater in Omaha, Nebraska on June 9 – see photo – this writer was ticketed for attendance). The CU seeks to also empower the people of the Caribbean to lead more impactful lives in which they are better able to meet their needs and plan for a productive future. The Go Lean roadmap seeks to put Caribbean people in a place of better Command-and-Control of their circumstances, to develop the community ethos of assisting each other to advance in our own lives, in our individual communities and in the Caribbean as a whole. Like Dr. Angelou, we say with a collective voice “and still I rise” – (Published Random House 1978):

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may tread me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I’ll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don’t you take it awful hard
‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines
Diggin’ in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I’ve got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history’s shame
I rise
Up from a past that’s rooted in pain
I rise

I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

While the CU’s prime directive is the economics of the Caribbean region, there are peripheral areas of concern. While economics, security and governance are all important for the sustenance of Caribbean life, pursuits like poetry, art, and beauty are the reasons we want to live. Maya Angelou stood as a vanguard for many of these causes:

Minority rights, civil rights, women rights, quest for justice, art, music, film, and image.

The Go Lean book posits that one person can make a difference in the Caribbean, and its impact on the world; that there are many opportunities where one champion, one advocate, can elevate society. In fact the book is a collection of 144 different advocacies, so there is inspiration for the Maya Angelou’s of the region to make their mark in many different fields of endeavor.

The roadmap specifically encourages the region, to lean-in and foster the next generation of Maya Angelou’s with these specific community ethos, strategies, tactics, implementations and advocacies:

The Go Lean roadmap pronounces that with the participation of many advocates on many different paths for progress, the Caribbean can truly become a better place to live, work and play. We owe a debt to Dr. Angelou for leading us along this path.

The Bible book of Psalms Chapter 90 quotes:

¹⁰  In themselves the days of our years are 70 years.
And if because of special mightiness they are 80 years.
Yet their insistence is on trouble and hurtful things;
For it must quickly pass by, and away we fly.

¹²  Show us just how to count our days in such a way
That we may bring a heart of wisdom in.

Rest in Peace Maya Angelou. Thank you for showing us how to make our days count.

Download the free e-book of Go Lean … Caribbean – now!

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Appendix – Bibliography
Contributions Retrieved May 28, 2014 from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Maya_Angelou_works

Autobiographies

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-375-50789-2
• Gather Together in My Name (1974). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-394-48692-5
• Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas (1976). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-679-45777-0
• The Heart of a Woman (1981). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-8129-8032-5
• All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes (1986). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-679-73404-8
• A Song Flung Up to Heaven (2002). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-375-50747-2
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: The Collected Autobiographies of Maya Angelou (2004). New York: Modern Library. ISBN 978-0-679-64325-8
• Mom & Me & Mom (2013). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-1-4000-6611-7

Poetry

• Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie (1971). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-394-47142-6[14]
• Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well (1975). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-45707-0
• And Still I Rise (1978). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-394-50252-6[9]
• Shaker, Why Don’t You Sing? (1983). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-394-52144-7[15][16]
• Poems (1986). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-553-25576-2
• Now Sheba Sings the Song (1987). New York: Plume Books. ISBN 0-452-27143-6
• I Shall Not Be Moved (1990). New York: Bantam Books. ISBN 0-553-35458-2
• “On the Pulse of Morning” (1993). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-74838-5[17]
• The Complete Collected Poems of Maya Angelou (1994). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-42895-X
• Phenomenal Woman: Four Poems Celebrating Women (1995). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-43924-2
• A Brave and Startling Truth (1995). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-679-44904-3[18]
• “From a Black Woman to a Black Man”, 1995
• “Amazing Peace” (2005). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6558-5[16]
• “Mother: A Cradle to Hold Me” (2006). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6601-8
• “Celebrations, Rituals of Peace and Prayer” (2006). New York: Random House. ISBN 978-0-307-77792-8
• Poetry for Young People (2007). Berkshire, U.K.: Sterling Books. ISBN 1-4027-2023-8
• “We Had Him”, 2009
• “His Day is Done”, 2012
• Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1993). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-553-56907-4
• Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-50031-6
• Letter to My Daughter (2008). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6612-3
• Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes (2004). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6289-6
• Great Food, All Day Long: Cook Splendidly, Eat Smart (2010). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6844-4
• Life Doesn’t Frighten Me (1993). New York: Stewart, Tabori, and Chang. ISBN 1-55670-288-4
• My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken and Me (1994). New York: Knopf Books. ISBN 0-517-59667-9
• Kofi and His Magic (1996). New York: Knopf Books. ISBN 0-517-59667-9
• Maya’s World series (2004). New York: Random House:
  • Itak of Lapland, ISBN 0-375-92833-2
  • Angelina of Italy, ISBN 0-375-82832-X
  • Renée Marie of France ISBN 0-375-82834-6
  • Mikale of Hawaii ISBN 0-375-92835-9
• Cabaret for Freedom (musical revue), with Godfrey Cambridge, 1960
• The Least of These, 1966
• The Best of These (drama), 1966
• Gettin’ up Stayed on My Mind, 1967
• Sophocles, Ajax (adaptation), 1974
• And Still I Rise (writer/director), 1976

Personal essays

• Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now (1993). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-553-56907-4
• Even the Stars Look Lonesome (1997). New York: Random House. ISBN 0-375-50031-6
• Letter to My Daughter (2008). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6612-3

Cookbooks

• Hallelujah! The Welcome Table: A Lifetime of Memories with Recipes (2004). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6289-6
• Great Food, All Day Long: Cook Splendidly, Eat Smart (2010). New York: Random House. ISBN 1-4000-6844-4

Children’s books

• Life Doesn’t Frighten Me (1993). New York: Stewart, Tabori, and Chang. ISBN 1-55670-288-4
• My Painted House, My Friendly Chicken and Me (1994). New York: Knopf Books. ISBN 0-517-59667-9
• Kofi and His Magic (1996). New York: Knopf Books. ISBN 0-517-59667-9
• Maya’s World series (2004). New York: Random House:
  • Itak of Lapland, ISBN 0-375-92833-2
  • Angelina of Italy, ISBN 0-375-82832-X
  • Renée Marie of France ISBN 0-375-82834-6
  • Mikale of Hawaii ISBN 0-375-92835-9

Plays

• Cabaret for Freedom (musical revue), with Godfrey Cambridge, 1960
• The Least of These, 1966
• The Best of These (drama), 1966
• Gettin’ up Stayed on My Mind, 1967
• Sophocles, Ajax (adaptation), 1974
• And Still I Rise (writer/director), 1976

Filmography
Contributions – Retrieved May 28, 2014 from: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0029723/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Actress (15 credits)

Writer (7 credits)

Soundtrack (4 credits)

Director (2 credits)

Music department (1 credit)

Producer (1 credit)

Miscellaneous Crew (1 credit)