So now the whole world knows about Donald Sterling's racist comments - even a sick Maya Angelou has responded while hospitalized.

In Donald Sterling's conversation with his female friend, V. Stiviano, he said, "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want", but "the little I ask you is ... not to bring them to my games."

Although Donald Sterling's mind may be stuck back in the American South circa 1800s, the world has moved on. Maya Angelou, the poet of 'Still I Rise' and one of the most famous African-American writers alive today, responded to his comments despte having to skip the upcoming MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon due to an "unexpected ailment".    

Donald Sterling, now an ex-owner of the Clippers was banned from the NBA for life and fined $2.5 million for saying this:   

"I support them and give them food, and clothes, and cars, and houses. Who gives it to them? Does someone else give it to them? Do I know that I have-Who makes the game? Do I make the game, or do they make the game? Is there 30 owners, that created the league?"

It's a shame that a major owner of an NBA team, largely comprised of African-American players, thinks like a plantation owner. But Maya Angelou, the 86-year-old author and civil rights activist, had another way of looking at this unfortunate comment.

"Do you realize that even 25 years ago, had [Donald Sterling] done this, there would be nothing - there would be a few heads turning, maybe?" Maya Angelou said. "But do you realize that this man has been banned? With all of his money and all of his history and the white skin which covers his whole body."

It must have been a nasty surprise to Donald Sterling, who has been living in his millionaire's bubble, to realize that just because he is important, rich and white, doesn't mean that he can say whatever he wants to. He is accountable for his words and his actions.

"I just look and see how far we've come," said Angelou.

Maya Angelou, who recited one of her poems at the 1993 presidential inauguration of Bill Clinton, has been fighting for equal rights as a civil rights activist most of her life. However, recently the poet has been falling ill and withdrawing from multiple functions. She just canceled her appearance at this year's MLB Beacon Awards Luncheon due to "unexpected ailment". This past March, she also missed El Paso Children's Hospital Foundation's 2014 Milagro Gala.