Freshmen nervously anticipating their first day of classes were urged to show courage and challenged to change the world by Maya Angelou, an influential leader who gave her 16th annual address at Duke Sunday afternoon.
Angelou, an author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, singer and dancer, addressed Duke's newest freshman class yesterday in the Chapel. She welcomed students to college, encouraged them to fight prejudice and make a positive contribution to society and emphasized the value of courage throughout.
In her address, which she embellished with spiritual songs, poetry and personal anecdotes, Angelou told students that courage was the most important virtue. Without courage, a person cannot practice all of the other virtues consistently, she said.
"I look at you young men and women as rainbows in the clouds," Angelou said. "You have the courage to light the path for someone else who might not look like you... [or] who might speak another language."
At 80 years old, Angelou has received numerous awards and degrees and is known for her active role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Displaying her activist spirit, Angelou told students that she was embarrassed to leave them with a world "so rife with blood thirst, hatred [and] bigotry," but said they had the chance to make changes and dispel ignorance.
"Somebody is going to help us resolve this problem with breast cancer," she said. "Someone is going to help us find the solution to prostate cancer. Somebody is going to help us find a way to be good neighbors in South America. So, I want to encourage you to see who you are and where you are, where you belong and who belongs to you."
To illustrate the possibility of accomplishing such seemingly daunting feats, Angelou drew parallels to her own life. When the United Nations was formed, Angelou, at 16, was uneducated, unmarried and pregnant. At the organization's 50th anniversary, however, Angelou was asked to write a poem commemorating the occasion.
She urged students to take advantage of the opportunities offered to them at Duke in order to accomplish their goals, by visiting libraries and conversing with their professors.
"A good student can make a mediocre teacher great," she said. "Go to a teacher, introduce yourselves. You are here with a passion, with a calling."
Some freshmen said they were moved by Angelou's address.
Freshman Tucker Howard said he was inspired by Angelou's speech, as she addressed issues that were relevant to individuals and the student body as a whole.
"That was amazing," he said. "Everything she was saying felt like it was just for me. Everything she said was just what I was hoping to get out of Duke."
Other students, however, said they disagreed with some aspects of Angelou's speech, particularly her emphasis on courage.
"I think love is greater than courage," freshman Wes Johnson said. "I think she was wrong on that. Love is sacrificial. Courage is something that rises up in opportune times. Love is everlasting, doesn't change, never fails."
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