Maya Angelou: 1928-2014

Still, I Rise

by

Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,

You may trod me in the very dirt

But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?

Why are you beset with gloom?

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells

Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,

With the certainty of tides,

Just like hopes springing high,

Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?

Bowed head and lowered eyes?

Shoulders falling down like teardrops,

Weakened by my soulful cries?

Does my haughtiness offend you?

Don't you take it awful hard

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines

Diggin' in my own backyard.

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I've got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame

I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain

I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear

I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear

I rise

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,

I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise

I rise

I rise.

For a wonderful multi-media bio on the great woman, please click here.

Image/poem source here. 

Call for Historical Female Minority Screenplays

Kidding Productions

Seeking Writer for an Historical Female Minority Project 

We are looking for a writer to bring on board an existing project. The project is a biopic about an historical female minority figure set during the period of Emancipation. As such, we are ONLY looking for scripts about female minority characters or historical figures as writing samples to evaluate in this potential writer-hire opportunity. When pitching, please tell us a little about yourself and your background and why you're the right writer for such a project.

Budget has yet to be determined. Both WGA and Non-WGA writers may submit.

We are an established theatrical/stage show production company moving into film and television, and we already have name talent interested in the story.

To submit to this lead:

Please type "InkTip" into the subject of the email, and submit a logline & synopsis (followed by a resume if you choose to do so) in the body of the email. (No email attachments, those emails will be deleted without being read) to Josh Berg at: kiddingscript (at) aol.com

NOTE: access to InkTip is restricted to producers who already have some track record in the feature film world; however, we realize that every producer who got a feature off the ground had to find that first script somewhere. So, we offer "e-mail only" leads to up-and-coming producers who show strong potential and who provided good references in an effort to help our writers connect with such producers.

NOTE: Please only submit your work if it fits what the lead is looking for exactly. If you aren't sure if your script fits, please ask InkTip first. 

InkTip.com is a service screenwriters PAY for. In this case, it's a freebie. To join InkTip for weekly email calls for screenplays, please click here. Remember, only submit if you have what the producer is looking for. And mention InkTip.

Good luck,

AAPEX

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