Maya Angelou's heartbreak after losing out on a job with Pearl Bailey 

Black women don't beat each other up. This was a Case of a person who didn't think about how her words could hurt or change a person's life. I'm Glad *_later on she thought highly enough of Maya Angelou to want her to present the Award._* That had to have *meant the World to Maya considering what happened years back.*

Oh I can believe it! That's just how they were back then. My grandmother was the same way, BRUTALLY blunt! Would hurt your feelings in a quick minute with no remorse whatsoever. When she died I thought "Oh God what are they gonna say at the funeral?" . She had insulted everyone in the church! That was just the way of that particular generation. Chick Webb initially didn't want Ellla Fitzgerald as a vocalist in his band until he heard her sing. He called her "ugly" even though he himself was physically deformed. I NEVER got over that one!

Nah. Seems fishy. Also Maya was not the talent for Hello Dolly. It would have been poor casting. Also Maya aint mince words realllllly shocked she never said anything IF this happened

Karma is real.

It was between 'Actors' in a Competitive field. Had nothing to do with them being Black. This is show business among all actors. *_Pearl thought highly enough of Maya Angelou to want her to present the Award._* That had to have *meant the World to Maya considering what happened years back.* She was Respected by Pearl at that point in time who knows how long. Pearl was very beautiful in their Youth and always told she was.

I don't get why Pearl would ask a lady she talked shit about to present her with an award. Like what ?

If your disrespectful to another black woman based on her looks, your just as worse as racist and your rotten on the inside. Pearl was ugly inside and out.

Amennnnn

​@@mikledavis3248amennnnn

Paul Charvert He actually meant "House of Flowers" which was in 1954, he must've gotten it mixed up. It was well documented that Pearl Bailey was a very jealous and at times rude woman, she was that way with Dorothy Dandridge.

To quote Shakespeare "All's well That Ends Well". Had Maya Angelou become her understudy, it would have only been for five months, which is how long the play ran. She went on to become a renowned , very gifted writer in many different areas. As for being Pearl Bailey's understudy in any play, the only Broadway play she was in, that ran longer than five months was Hello Dolly which was already at hit, when she took over the role, and continued to be a hit after she left the show. Thelma Carpenter was her understudy in Hello Dolly.

He was lying.

As much as I love Pearl Bailey the entertainer, Pearl Bailey the person adored white folks so much so she even married a white man. And my thinking is, she rubbed so many elbows with white people and was probably accepted by so many it's possible that she gained a superiority complex to where it was so easy for her to dismiss and belittle one of her own, with not even knowing what a huge success and impact and legacy that Mya Angelou will bring to the black community and to the world.

@@MountTheodore72 It seems I made my comment on this video four years ago. I've long since forgotten about the video. Your thinking might be right on the mark, as far as her adoration for "white folks" Qui sait? Who knows? There is a video on RU-vid of her sucking up to Nixon on his birthday. As for her marrying a white man, she married musician Louie Bellson [ Luigi Paulino Alfredo Francesco Antonio Balassoni] who was Italian. He stated that growing up. he only spoke Italian in his home. Being a great lover of jazz, I'd much rather listen to him, than her. Mya Angelou married Paul du Feu, a Welshman. They both married men of another ethnicity. As far as what Mya Angelou's son said, it makes less sense to me now, than it did four years ago. As I stated, in 1967 he was a grown man, 22 years old. P.B. did not live another 35 years. Maya Angelou was ten years younger and always smaller than P.B. From her pictures she was slender as a young woman. As she grew older she gained a little weight, but P.B. gained a lot of weight as she grew older. Also, in my opinion, Maya Angelou was attractive, as a young woman. Someone suggested he was actually speaking of "House of Flowers" in 1954. That play only ran for five months. Miriam Burton was P.B.'s understudy in that play. She was a large lady, and certainly no more attractive than Mya Angelou, who was only 26 in 1954. On 12/6/1971 and 1/10/1972 Mya Angelou was a guest on the "Tonight Show" with P.B. as Guest Host both times. Why would she appear on a show with the person who brought her to tears? This was 4 years after P.B opened in "Dolly", not 35 years after. Also, why would P.B. care who her understudy was? She would not want anyone who shared the stage with her to take the spotlight away from her. I'm sure she would have done everything to prevent that. On the other hand the less desirable {He said Big and Ugly] the understudy is, the more disappointed the audience would be at not seeing the star of the play. They might come back on another night, to see the star. The more desirable, the audience is going to enjoy the understudy and not think so much about the star, that they didn't see. That scenario was delineated in the movie "All About Eve". Eve went on for Mago Channing and got rave reviews for her performance. This made Margo very unhappy. His story has more holes in it than swiss cheese but I must admit I love the dramatic background music that's played in his video.

Ashley M I was so confused on that part

Thank you for explaining it 'to them' because i sure as hell didn't want to take the time to do so !

Pearl Bailey never said anything to Maya when she presented the award to her.

@@shadaviongrant7605 Pearl was getting the award and they asked her who she wanted to give it to her, and pearl said Maya. Her son then said "guess who gave it to her and didn't say a damn word" meaning his mom gave Pearl the award and never told Pearl that she knew how Pearl had treated her, and took the high road.

It's one thing to not get a callback. It's another to hear the employer say that you're ugly, IF that in fact did happen.

@@JloveLamar That's not the end of the world. Actors get rejected for all kinds of hurtful reasons. You have to have thick skin.

@@sharlarisse3682 Once again, it wasn't the rejection. People are rejected daily from jobs. It's the COMMENTS that hurt her. This was probably in the 40s or 50s. Think of an African-American woman like Maya having nobody to look up to, and then seeing another African-American woman making it and doing what you want to do, and she calls you ugly. That could destroy someone, if that in fact did happen. Maya had already been raped by this time, so her self-esteem has constantly been taking hits.

@@JloveLamar Don’t even bother explaining to them. They know all this but are pretending to be obtuse to get attention

Oh shut up!!! Mayo never did a bad rude awful thing. Pearl did alot of mean rude things!!! And the heifer paid for it!!!!

NO she was not. She was young and _'allegedly'_ hurt someone with hurtful words without thinking. He was 22yrs Old when all this supposedly took place. Later on *_Pearl thought highly enough of Maya Angelou to want her to present the Award._* That had to have *meant the World to Maya considerin.* She was Respected by Pearl at that point in time. They appeared on the _"Tonight show"_ together twice. All ended well for everyone.

@@naturalkinkycurlymarie7496 actually others have mentioned the same behavior and treatment. She was not a nice person.

He missed his mother. Sometimes it’s what’s underneath. RIP Maya Angelou

Entitlement? This has nothing to do with entitlement and everything to do with black women being other black women's worst enemy due to envy, hatred,, and jealousy. Calling her big and ugly? Especially with the times they were in? Pearl was a bitch. Period

What a sour reaction. At least he has a personal connection to this story. You are just a mean spirit.

Um ok

He was 22yrs old at the time all this supposedly happened.