Dr. Maya Angelou gives big props to a Chester native

On November 16, Michel Martin of NPR, hosted an interview entitled A new Home for Maya Angelou Collection.

Poet and author Maya Angelou's written collection, including her personal papers and documents, has been acquired by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. In the trove are letters from James Baldwin and Malcolm X as well as a draft of her poem "On the Pulse of Morning," which she recited at former President Bill Clinton's inauguration in 1993. Host Michel Martin speaks with Angelou and Chester native, Howard Dodson, executive director of Harlem's Schomburg center.

Here are Dr. Angelou’s remarks:

Dr. ANGELOU: Well, one of the reasons that the Schomburg is so important is because of the presence of Mr. Dodson. His insight first. His intelligence.

Howard Dodson came into the Schomburg and opened it up to the community, the community of Harlem and the community of human beings. So people could come into the Schomburg in jeans, on go aheads(ph), our slippers. You can go into the Schomburg in dreads or with your hair marcelled(ph) or cut off, for that matter.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Dr. ANGELOU: And under Howard Dodson's aegis, the doors were opened. And that's what all education should - how it should be offered, completely open.

Click HERE to read the April 26, 2010 post on Howard Dodson.