Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson on April 4, 1928 and died on May 28, 2014. Maya was an American poet, singer, memoirist, and civil rights activist.

I feel these words which Maya wrote for a poem. They resonate with me because I am outspoken, because I speak often and want people to heed my words and have those words heard, read and remembered.

I have felt cut with glances and looks by many in my lifetime and I have felt hate. Anyone who has experienced bullying has and I was bullied in grade school, junior high and high school because the rumor was that I was a lesbian which was lies and twisted truth of the sexual assault I endured and survived at 11 years of age. It took me years to figure out they weren’t homosexual and it was hate and about power and control.

I have risen many times. After the sexual assault at 11 and 25 and after many hard lessons I’ve been taught I continue to claw my way out through the ashes to rise