Maya Angelou is often labeled many things. Feminist writer, activist, filmmaker,
poet, singer, actor, and storyteller. She learned French, Italian, Spanish, Serbo-Croatian,
Arabic, and Fanti. Marguerite Ann Johnson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4,
1928. Angelou acquired the first half of her pen name from her brother, Bailey Junior, whose
babyish chatter transformed "my sister" into "Maya". In 1931, Maya and Bailey were
dropped off by train from Long Beach, California, to Stamps, Arkansas- which contrasted
strongly with Maya's birthplace.
Under the care of Mama, the children's old south paternal grandmother, and their
semi-paralyzed Uncle Willie, they lived behind the Wm. Johnson General Merchandise Store.
They took in religious and ethical training. Maya's escapism from her harsh, obedient
everyday life lead her to classic literature. She read particularly white writers- Shakespeare,
Kipling, Poe, Thackeray, and Butler- and notable black writers- Paul Dunbar, Langston
Hughes, W. E. B. Du Bois, and James Weldon Johnson.
In 1936 her father came and whisked Bailey and her back to St.Louis, to live with her
mother Vivian and uncles. Her mother drank and danced in gambling halls, lived with a new
man, and motivated the children to do all the things they didn't have in Stamps. Maya
idolized her mother. This stage in her life ended abruptly. It ended after Vivian's lover, Mr.
Freeman, raped the eight year old. Maya was forced to testify against him. Her uncles
murder the rapist. The eight year old went into a world of guilt, refusing to speak, and being
very frightened. Vivian was unable to deal with an emotionally damaged child and returned
Maya to Stamps, where she rebuilt her self-respect by shielding herself from the outside
world, reading classic literature and excelling at school. She enjoyed Mrs. Bertha Flowers, a
south...