Maya Angelou’s ode to Rabbie Burns.
Dr. Maya Angelou, the African-American writer and poet, discovered and was inspired by the work of Robert Burns at the age of 8. She was mute and living in a small hamlet in Arkansas. "He was the first white man I read who seemed to understand that a human being was a human being and we are more alike than unalike".
The film follows Maya Angelou on a pilgrimage to Burns country in which she explores the strong parallels that exist in their lives - poor beginnings, early love of literature, fame, liberty and equality, music, religion, love and passion - and meets the enthusiastic and fanatical Burnsians, who welcome her to ceilidhs in Ayrshire and Edinburgh in honour of her visit and Burns' genius.
First broadcast in 1996 to commemorate the bicentenary of Burns’ death, we are screening the documentary in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Pensioners for Independence to mark the anniversary of his death. The group promotes Scottish Independence but are not linked to any political party. They welcome Angelou’s observation that “poems transcend race, time and space” and her recognition that Burns is a symbol for “freedom and Scotland’s dignity, independence and humanity”.
We are delighted to welcome Hugh McMillan, poet and writer for post-film discussion.
The fun begins at 10.30am with a story or sing-along, followed by a short film or collection of short films for really wee ones. This time it’s the animated children's television series about a fireman named Sam, his fellow firefighters, and other residents in the fictional Welsh village of Pontypandy.
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