“Love Liberates” 

Excerpts transcription of Dr. Maya Angelou talk/teaching from Oprah Winfrey’s Master Class Series 

I am grateful to have been loved

and to be loved now

and to be able to love,

because that liberates.

Love liberates.

It doesn’t just hold—that’s ego.

Love liberates…

…So, in her last days, I said, “ now I understand that some people need permission to go.

As I understand it, you may have done what God put you here to do:

You were a great worker.

You must have been a great lover because a lot of men

and, if I’m not wrong, maybe a couple of women risked their lives to love you.

You were a piss poor mother of small children,

but you were a great, great mother of young adults.

and if you need permission to go,

I liberate you.

 I went back to my house

and something said “go back,”

I was in my pajamas,

I jumped in my car and ran.

And the nurse said,

“she’s just gone.”

You see, love liberates.

It doesn’t bind.

Love says, “I love you,

I love you if you’re in China,

I love you if you’re across town,

I love you if you’re in Harlem,

I love you.

I would like to be near you.

I’d like to have your arms around me,

I’d like to hear your voice in my ear,

but that’s not possible now,

so I love you.

Go.”