Lucille Clifton - What they call you

[sun_set_bravely]

Spotted in a comment on a friends' journal today, though it was misattributed to Maya Angelou.

"What they call you is one thing.
What you answer to is something else."
--Lucille Clifton


Is this from one of her poems? Does anyone have the full poem?

Comments

[daisydumont.livejournal.com]

oh, she's one of my favorites. google gave me this page but no other hits for that quote. it may be something she said rather than part of a poem, but i'll look around.
clifton

[fathoming.livejournal.com]

Wow, what a great quote. That's along the lines of something I've been thinking much about today, about what one is versus how one is perceived.

And I got your Van Gogh postcard today! Sweeeet! Thank you!

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it!

[resilient.livejournal.com]

That's a great quote!

[poetbear.livejournal.com]

i don't know, but i got your lovely
postcard today. Van Gogh is a special
favorite of ours. thanks so much.
(you have the same name as my
daughter-in-law!)~paul

[sun-set-bravely.livejournal.com]

I' m glad you liked the card! :)