BET Networks mourns the death of the iconic poet, professor, mother and friend, Dr. Maya Angelou, who died in her North Carolina home on Wednesday morning. Chairman and CEO of BET, Debra Lee, has released a statement on the passing of Angelou: 
“We are saddened to learn about the death of Maya Angelou today. Her light will always shine through her extraordinary contributions to the arts and to the very fabric of American culture. She was an icon in literature, an influential voice in civil rights, and an innovator throughout her life,” said Debra L. Lee, Chairman and CEO of BET Networks. “Through her 86 years, she personified resilience, wisdom and intelligence. She had the courage to confront issues of identity, family and race – and the compassion to create characters that resonated with every American. Her words have inspired Presidents and transcended cultures.
I was personally honored to pay tribute to Dr. Angelou during a BET Honors in 2012 to recognize her tremendous contributions to our world. And how appropriate that the First Lady, Michelle Obama, would present this award to Dr. Angelou.
We celebrate her life and turn to one of her poems to best describe her life: ‘Phenomenal Woman.’ That is Maya Angelou, indeed.”
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(Photo: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)