The Guardian crititicized Maya Angelou for promoting her new line of products in a joint venture with Hallmark Cards, Inc. January 19, 2002

To these accusations Maya Angelou answered, "I was once told that I shouldn't do it because the person said, 'You are the people's poet, the most popular poet in the United States, and you shouldn't trivialize your work.' So when I hung up the phone and thought about it, I said, 'If I'm the people's poet, then my work should be in the people's hands. There are many people who will never buy a book, but who would buy a card.' So I thought no, no. I'm going to do it." From a New York Times article.