Mom & Me & Mom

Over the phone, Angelou senses her mother’s voice is weak. Vivian admits she is sick but seeing a doctor. She is also working a shift as a personal nurse for a white woman. Angelou visits Vivian, and she tells her daughter not to worry. Still, she wants to settle her property and expects a visit from Bailey. As for Vivian’s patient, she has memory loss and thinks Vivian is her sister. Angelou is amazed by the Matisse paintings on the wall, and the woman, despite her memory loss, remembers the pieces. Vivian explains that her patient is the widow of Gertrude Stein’s brother, Leo Stein. Mrs. Stein offers artwork to her employees, which Vivian characterizes as “the expression of intelligence and love” (160).

Angelou is in Stockholm at the film production of one of her screenplays; she also wrote music for the film. The story is about an African American nightclub singer. Angelou wanted to meet the film crew and Swedish director. She visits the set daily to braid the lead actress’s hair. She develops an ambition to become a film director—however, the lead actress demands that she leave the set. Days later, an actor decides to leave.