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The late poet virtuoso Maya Angeleou signified a decency and fearlessness in every woman across the world (and several men as well) and Nicki Minaj is no exception. During A&E’s classy Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America event last night (November 18), The Pinkprint made a special guest appearance to recite arguably Angelou’s most recognizable poem, “Still I Rise” from 1973.

Nicki took center stage midway during the event, rocking a shimmer golden Balmain dressed and launched into the classic poem with all the conviction and vulnerability of a woman who has to prove their worth even after achieving many milestones.

The crowd eagerly gave their standing ovation a false start when the award-winning rap star breached the meat of the potatoes of the poem that famously harbors on the double standard in sex appeal.

“Does my sexiness upset you?

Does it come as a surprise

That I dance like I’ve got diamonds

At the meeting of my thighs?”

Both A&E and iHeartRadio partnered together to present the “Shining A Light” event to raise money for the Fund for Progress on Race in America powered by United Way Worldwide to support race-related tragedies across the world, starting with the heinous act of evil that happened at the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in South Carolina this past June.

Watch Nicki Minaj speak from the heart of Maya Angelou and check out the other pages below to see John Legend and Alicia Keys give special outtake performances of Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and Donny Hathaway’s “Someday We’ll All Be Free,” respectively. The full “Race In America” show starts its broadcast on November 21 and will run through December 15.

Photo: A&E

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