My terrible, wonderful mother

"That's the first time I have
seen you smile. It is a
beautiful smile. Mother's
beautiful daughter can smile."
"Maya, I am your mother. Despite the
fact that I left you for years, I am your
mother. You know that, don't you?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Baby, I've been thinking and
now I am sure. You are the
greatest woman I've ever
met."
"You are very kind and very intelligent
and those elements are not always found
together. Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr
Mary McLeod Bethune and my mother—
yes, you belong in that category. Here,
give me a kiss."

"Because they told me they wouldn't let

"Lady." any woman in their union. They
suggested that the union certainly would
not accept a negro woman. I told them,
"What?" 'You want to bet?' I will put my foot in
their door up to my hip until every
"Lady." woman can get in that union, and can
get aboard a ship and go to sea."
"Why?"

"Because you are beautiful, and

you don't look like a mother."

“She wants to call me Lady."

"And I like it. She said I'm

beautiful and kind, so I resemble a
true lady. From now on, Junior,
you can call me Lady. In fact, I'm
going to introduce myself to
people as Lady Jackson. You all
feel free to call me Lady.
Everybody has the right to be
called anything he wants to be
called. I want to be called Lady."