Sept. 22, 2016, James Madison University: Discussing the influence of Maya Angelou’s writing in the United States, Africa, and the Caribbean, this panel featured papers by Dr. Sheryl Gifford (moderator), who teaches Carribean literature at Florida Atlantic University; Dr. Mollie Godfrey, who teaches African American poetry and literature at JMU; Dr. Besi Muhonja, who teaches Africana studies, women’s and gender studies, and East African cultures at JMU; and Dr. Joanne Gabbin, executive director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center and professor of English at JMU; as well as readings by Lauren K. Alleyne, Assistant Director of the Furious Flower Poetry Center and Associate Professor of English at JMU, as well as readings by Lauren K. Alleyne, Assistant Director of Furious Flower and Associate Professor of English at JMU. See more about Furious Flower at http://www.jmu.edu/furiousflower.

The first presentation on the historicizing of, and reporting on Maya Angelou’s relationship with/to Africa used her book (Angelou, Maya. All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes. Vintage, 1987), and also drew some narratives from the following sources:

Angelou, Maya. "Not Available." New York Times [New York] 16 April 1972: 15.

“A Conversation With Nell Irvin Painter & Maya Angelou.” UNC Center for Public Television. 1985.

"Author Maya Angelou Discusses Africa." Katie Couric, correspondent. NBC Today Show. NBCUniversal Media. 13 November 1992. NBC Learn.

"Interview: Maya Angelou: Creating a Poem to Honor the Nation." Gayle Pollard Terry. Los Angeles Times. NBCUniversal Media. 17 January 1993. NBC Learn.

Meri Nana-Ama Danquah. "What I Learned From My Auntie Maya.” The Wall Street Journal - Speakeasy. 28 May 2014, http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/05/28/what-i-learned-from-my-auntie-maya/

Tshitenge Lubabu. "Maya Angelou’s Meeting With Africa." The Africa Report. 16 December 2011.

Wagner-Martin, Linda. Maya Angelou: Adventurous Spirit. Bloomsbury Publishing USA, 2015.