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- Dec 17, 2009
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One of the inscriptions reads: "I was a drum major for justice peace and righteousness."
Angelou says the passage was edited from a 1968 sermon at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta and an important clause was taken out.
King's original words were: "If you want to say that I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter."
Many old southern plantations are now tourist attractions. But one thing you will never see is the slave cemetery. They have either been dozed over or something built on top of them, but the slave cemetery is not part of the show.
My family's slaves did not leave, they stayed on until they died and were buried in their cemetery next to our family cemetery. My grandfather knew them and loved them. He was adamant that our slave cemetery be well kept. It still is even though he had been dead half a century now. The markers are still there and my cousins who live near it mow it fathfully. One thing I have wanted to do to honor my grandfather and those people he loved is to put a monument on our slave cemetery. As yet, I have not done so. And this is part of the reason. My black friends say it would be a nice thing to do. But there are many others who would be indignant over such a good will gesture.
Maya Angelou criticizes passage on King memorial - CNN.com