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A Brave and Startling Truth
First read by Maya Angelou at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, this wise and moving poem will inspire readers with its memorable message of hope for humanity.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 1995
4 people are currently reading
669 people want to read
About the author
Maya Angelou
260books14.2kfollowersMaya Angelou was an American memoirist, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focus on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.
She became a poet and writer after a string of odd jobs during her young adulthood. These included fry cook, sex worker, nightclub performer, Porgy and Bess cast member, Southern Christian Leadership Conference coordinator, and correspondent in Egypt and Ghana during the decolonization of Africa. Angelou was also an actress, writer, director, and producer of plays, movies, and public television programs. In 1982, she was named the first Reynolds Professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Angelou was active in the Civil Rights Movement and worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Beginning in the 1990s, she made approximately 80 appearances a year on the lecture circuit, something she continued into her eighties. In 1993, Angelou recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993) at the first inauguration of Bill Clinton, making her the first poet to make an inaugural recitation since Robert Frost at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy in 1961.
With the publication of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou publicly discussed aspects of her personal life. She was respected as a spokesperson for Black people and women, and her works have been considered a defense of Black culture. Her works are widely used in schools and universities worldwide, although attempts have been made to ban her books from some U.S. libraries. Angelou's most celebrated works have been labeled as autobiographical fiction, but many critics consider them to be autobiographies. She made a deliberate attempt to challenge the common structure of the autobiography by critiquing, changing, and expanding the genre. Her books center on themes that include racism, identity, family, and travel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
January 19, 2022
It’s a difficult task to find any words worthy of explaining my feelings toward this poem. I will just simply say that this is important, simple, and gorgeously done. Thanks a million for this stunner, Maya Angelou.
April 27, 2023
An inspiring library-read
October 30, 2018
This book is just one, pithy, beautiful poem from a moment in the life of our country when a glimmer of hope was lit. Angelou is in this writing, as in her others, prophetess and giver of hope.
May 20, 2021
I have no memory of this poem gaining a national spotlight in 1995, but I guess I was rather distracted in June of that year when the poem was initially delivered by the author at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. I had finished my Masters Degree and had probably just learned that I was accepted to the Ph.D. program at Boston University. There’s not a lot about that summer that I remember, sitting her today. Instead, I was directed to this poem during an interview with Janna Levin—the same interview that led me to John McPhee’s Draft No. 4. I admire Levin’s writing, so when she gushes about something she’s read, I assume it is worth the reading.
This existence of this book tells me that Angelou’s poem was exceptionally well received. Not many individual, non-epic poems get a whole book devoted to them, let alone a hard-bound copy.
It’s a strong poem, and you most certainly don’t need any analysis from me about it. Angelou places the hopeful within the horrible, the promise within the painful reality, and in doing so, the poem achieves an honesty necessary for the subject.
The production is of course of high quality. The layout is decent, but nothing stellar. It feels like something you could pick up in the U.N. gift shop.
This existence of this book tells me that Angelou’s poem was exceptionally well received. Not many individual, non-epic poems get a whole book devoted to them, let alone a hard-bound copy.
It’s a strong poem, and you most certainly don’t need any analysis from me about it. Angelou places the hopeful within the horrible, the promise within the painful reality, and in doing so, the poem achieves an honesty necessary for the subject.
The production is of course of high quality. The layout is decent, but nothing stellar. It feels like something you could pick up in the U.N. gift shop.
July 30, 2020
This is a poem for eternity! What I mean by this is that all of humanity should be reminded of the message of this story. Sweeping language and rich message! I've read this poem many times and each time I feel like I have learned something new, this is such a wonderful piece that we need especially now during this pandemic. Powerful words of wisdom from one of the most wise and beloved women in history!
February 7, 2019
"When we come to it
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign soil" -
Available here:
When the curtain falls on the minstrel show of hate
And faces sooted with scorn are scrubbed clean
When battlefields and coliseum
No longer rake our unique and particular sons and daughters
Up with the bruised and bloody grass
To lie in identical plots in foreign soil" -
Available here:
October 5, 2024
“We, this people, on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth.
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms…�
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth.
And when we come to it
To the day of peacemaking
When we release our fingers
From fists of hostility
And allow the pure air to cool our palms…�
June 2, 2018
This beautiful poem was read by the poet/author at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. I read it, then again aloud and a third time to know it and enjoy the cadence of her words.
February 23, 2018
An appraisal of the human condition - Maya Angelou's poem calls for solidarity in building a better future.
May 28, 2018
Absolutely brilliant. I only wish this was a larger compendium of other works as well.
November 17, 2019
A beautiful call to arms for all of humanity to recognise our oneness and aspire to our collective better self. You could say its a message of hope.
March 3, 2021
I bet this is moving in person. I will have to look for a recording.
April 3, 2021
YouTube has the video of her reading it at the UN that is 👌🏽
November 28, 2021
It was boring
February 28, 2022
Amazing work as always...I am going to see if I can find it being spoken by her on YouTube.
March 10, 2022
I'm not a big reader of poetry, but I followed this & enjoyed it. Also seems relevant for current times with Ukraine & Russia.
July 31, 2022
Now THAT'S poetry.
August 23, 2022
She's SO EMPOWERING�
November 1, 2022
So much truth in this short book!
January 8, 2023
As someone who doesn't know much about Maya Angelou poetry, it would have been nice if it told me it was one long poem. It took me a moment to figure this out.
The poem was beautiful though!
The poem was beautiful though!
June 29, 2024
A poem for humanity.
April 10, 2025
Beautiful and stunning poem.
April 17, 2025
Powerful.
April 11, 2011
Read by the poet at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, San Francisco, June 26, 1995. Absolutely perfect!!
"We, this people,on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth."
"We, this people,on a small and lonely planet
Traveling through casual space
Past aloof stars, across the way of indifferent suns
To a destination where all signs tell us
It is possible and imperative that we learn
A brave and startling truth."
June 24, 2013
Had the privilege of attending Dr. Angelou's appearance at the University of FL Phillips Center on 2/27/13 - extraordinary experience. She concluded her lecture, sponsored by ACCENT in celebration of Black History Month, by reading "A Brave and Startling Truth" - inspiring...a must have for anyone's poetry collection.
November 27, 2010
Always love Maya Angelou's poetry. I love to hear her read it aloud even more. This is a single poem which she read in 1995 at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations. Absolutely lovely!
August 13, 2014
A wonderful book that will make you proud of who and where you are. I found myself reading aloud and taking notes. I recommend this to anyone new to Angelou or looking for a different pace. Pick it up, and give it a chance, I promise you have nothing to lose and so much to gain!
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December 22, 2014aptly named. basically, we're all in this thing together and cannot afford the luxury of reaching for bombs and weapons to destroy ourselves and the Earth because it and we're all we've got...everyone should read this everyday until it sinks in.
April 12, 2016
Another incredibly short "book" with a rather short poem. It's a good poem. But I still have issues getting past the concept of one small poem making up one small book. Please throw in some "bonus" materials next time.
December 17, 2008
Quick read - poem about peace and hope for the world.
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