Who Was Maya Angelou Family - Poetry & Poets (2024)

Maya Angelou was a renowned author and poet, and her family was instrumental in her success. Her parents, Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson, met in St. Louis, Missouri, and moved the family to Stamps, Arkansas, in 1923. Though their marriage was brief, the couple had four children together, Maya being their oldest. Maya’s father worked odd jobs to provide for the family, while her mother worked in various businesses. Later they divorced, leaving Maya’s mother to raise the children with the help of her grandmother, Annie Henderson.

Maya’s paternal grandmother, Mary Lee, was an emancipated slave, who lived to be 105 years old. She passed away the year of Maya’s birth, 1931. Her parents maintained a friendship after their divorce, but at different times moved away from Stamps and did not stay in contact with Maya. When Maya’s mother eventually moved to California, Maya stayed behind with her grandmother, Aunt Willie Mae, and Uncle Willie.

In Stamps, Maya had the love and support of her extended family and a strong African-American community around her. She was greatly influenced by her grandmother’s faith, her uncle’s entrepreneurial endeavors, and her aunt’s compassionate spirit. Maya fondly reflects that she grew up in a society of people who looked out for and supported one another through the hardships of poverty and racism in the rural South.

Maya later moved to California and founded a family of her own. She had a son, Guy Johnson, with her then husband Tosh Angelos. The two later split, and Maya married Paul du Feu in 1973. The two divorced after sixteen years of marriage. After her marriages, Maya remained close with her son, who also went on to become an author, and remained connected to her extended family and friends.

Maya Angelou’s family was formative in nurturing, inspiring, and encouraging her artistic development and determination. The support, love, and values of both her immediate and extended family, which was unique in its resistance to oppression, allowed Maya to grow and succeed. In the end, it was her maternal grandmother, who she credits for being her greatest influence, who she originally credited for being her guardian angel and teacher.

Maya Angelou was the only daughter of Bailey Johnson and Vivian Baxter Johnson. They had four children together and were married in St. Louis, Missouri, before they moved the family to Stamps, Arkansas in 1923. Though their marriage was brief, Bailey and Vivian provided the stability, faith, and guidance needed for Maya and her siblings to grow. Vivian eventually left Stamps for better job prospects in California and remarried, leaving her mother, Annie Henderson, to raise the children with the help of her aunt, Willie Mae, and uncle, Willie.

Their forward-thinking and resourceful actions enabled the family to make it through the hardships of poverty and racism in the Jim Crow South. Maya’s parents stayed in contact after the divorce and her father moved to California to provide for his family. He also provided examples of hard work and success for Maya. Vivian, more independent out of necessity, provided a model of courage and strength that Maya learned from.

Vivian taught Maya the power of education and books, often taking her to the library. She was her earliest teacher, teaching her to read and write, instilling in her a love of the written word that would eventually shape and define Maya’s career. Bailey, a Blues singer and tall-tale teller, also provided an inspirational example, inspiring Maya’s love of music as well as her ability to express herself through spoken word.

Maya’s parents influence endures in her today, and they are a reminder of the role of family and community in the development of any great figure. Vivian and Bailey provided the confidence, faith, and steadfastness which Maya needed to make her name known.

Maya’s parents may not have been perfect, but they succeeded in their goal of providing a stable home for their child, one that would eventually lay the ground for her success.

Maya was fortunate to have strong female role models in her life, most significantly her maternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, and her paternal grandmother, Mary Lee. Mary was an emancipated slave, and with Annie, they provided Maya and the rest of the family with immense emotional, spiritual and physical support.

Annie Henderson was a devout Baptist and a great source of spiritual guidance in Maya’s upbringing. Annie taught Maya reverence for faith and the power of prayer. Her wisdom and heritage that reached back generations, gave Maya a true understanding of her place in the world and her worth as a human being.

Mary Lee was a former slave, and one of the last living members of the original Stamps, Arkansas community. She served as a living connection between Maya and her past, and her influence gave Maya an insight into how the struggles of her ancestors shaped and influenced the African American experience.

Both Annie and Mary provided unique perspectives on the importance of family and community, something that Maya carried throughout her life. They showed her the importance of resilience and hard work, and encouraged her to embrace her African American heritage. They were also able to instill in Maya faith and acceptance of others, something she was later able to translate in her artistic works.

The legacy of both women remain in Maya, and their influence is forever embedded in her writings and personal values.

Maya’s aunt and uncle, Willie Mae and Willie, provided her with a safe haven during her childhood in Stamps, Arkansas. They also provided an environment where Maya felt accepted, nurtured, and most importantly, understood.

Maya’s Aunt Willie Mae was a compassionate and faithful being. She give Maya plenty of love and encouragement, and taught her the importance of grace and the power of forgiveness. Aunt Willie Mae made the Bible accessible to Maya, which provided unique perspectives on the African American experience and shaped Maya’s perception of faith and community.

Uncle Willie, was Maya’s business mentor, teaching her the importance of resilience and standing up for what you believe in. Uncle Willie also brought with him the African American culture of the Blue Mountains every weekend, with his harmonica playing, storytelling and hardworking spirit. His entrepreneurial disposition was instrumental to Maya, and it inspired her to think outside the box and create innovative solutions.

Aunt Willie and Uncle Willie were a great support system for Maya and her siblings, and though the family was split between the two coasts, her aunt and uncle stayed in contact and provided a safe haven in times of need.

Maya’s aunt and uncle provided faith, understanding, and love to a family in need, and their influence on her is undeniable and continues to penetrate her life and career.

When Maya eventually left Stamps for California, she established a family of her own. With her first husband Tosh Angelos, Maya had a son, Guy Johnson, who also went on to become an author. The two later split, and Maya married Paul du Feu in 1973, who she was married to for sixteen years before they divorced. Despite her marriages and her new career, Maya remained close with her family in Stamps, and often visited them.

Throughout her adult life, Maya has remained close with her family and attended family reunions in Stamps, Arkansas. Throughout her career, she would often talk about her family, including her mother and father, her son, her grandfather, and her aunt and uncle. She often visited home, as well as connecting with relatives all over the world.

Family has been an unyielding and ever-present anchor through Maya’s life and success. She has reunited and strengthened the bond with her immediate family, as well as her extended family, reaching out to cousins and other relatives through reunions and travels.

Today, Maya remains close with her family, including her son, Guy. It is a testament to her success that she has been able to stay connected to her family and maintain such meaningful relationships with them. They have been a constant source of love, inspiration and support throughout her life and career.

Maya’s family has been an integral part of her success, and their influence will always remain with her. From her grandmother, who taught her the importance of faith, to her aunt, who gave her unconditional love, to her father, who showed her the power of hard work, her family has been pivotal to her success.

Maya Angelou’s legacy reaches beyond her death in 2014. Her influence and impact are most felt in her writings, which are as relevant today as when they were written. In her works, she explored different cultures, promoted human rights, and passed on important lessons of survival, resilience, strength and family.

Throughout her life, Maya battled racial and gender inequalities, and celebrated joy and resilience. Her works were often a reflection of her faith and continued support from the family and extended family that surrounded her. She wrote honest and powerful stories of love, family, struggle, and success.

Maya’s legacy will continue to have strong influence on African American literature and culture. Her work has been recognized by the Library of Congress, she was included in the National Women’s Hall of Fame, and she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Her books have inspired generations of authors, and she will continue to be a source of hope and inspiration for many.

Maya’s family was an integral part of her success, and her grandmother and aunt have been instrumental in her development. Her father provided an inspirational example of hard work, and her mother encouraged her to develop her talents and pursue education. They were all a testament to the power of family and community in overcoming hardships and achieving great things.

The legacy of Maya Angelou’s family lives on through her work. Their resilience, courage, and values will continue to shape generations to come.