Did Maya Angelou have siblings? Many people are interested in the life of Maya Angelou and the relationships she had with her family. We know that the beloved African American poet, author, and civil rights activist, had a relationship with her parents, however, not much is known about her connection with any siblings. The answer is both yes and no.
We know that Maya Angelou had three half-brothers and a half-sister. Maya’s father was a doorman and her mother was a commercial artist and card shark, her parents divorced when she was three and she moved to California with her mother. Soon after, her mother gave birth to two more children, creating a total of four. From that moment, all four of her half-siblings became her brothers and sister. Rowena and Geraldine were her half-sisters and Bailey & Larry were her half-brothers.
Maya and her siblings had different upbringings, so they weren’t close. She moved around a lot, while they stayed in their hometown of Stamps, Arkansas. Sometimes they would see each other, but they weren’t necessarily close like other siblings. In fact, Maya’s half-brother Larry said, “We weren’t really close at all and until adulthood, a lot of my memories of her consisted of her coming around every now and then for a visit.”
Although Maya Angelou had siblings, she was the only one of her siblings to leave Stamps, Arkansas, move to California and become successful. Throughout her career, Angelou was an accomplished poet, author, actress, and civil rights activist who went on to win dozens of awards for her work. As for her siblings, they all stayed in Arkansas and led more modest lives.
Maya’s half-brother Larry said he didn’t get to see her very often, but still admired her in many ways. For instance, he said, “What she did with her life, we all admired and we respected her and the way she was. I think it’s a great thing that she was able to rise up and succeed the way she did and become an example for everybody.”
All of her half-siblings expressed pride and admiration for Maya Angelou’s legacy and successes. Her half-sister Geraldine said, “What she did, that was inspiring. It was an inspiration to me and it was an inspiration to others.” Bailey, her eldest brother said, “I just love the woman. All of her books and her achievements touched us all. We’re proud of her, believe me we’re proud of her.”
Sibling Support
In times of trouble, it is always comforting to have the support of family. Many of Maya Angelou’s siblings were supportive of her over the course of her life. Bailey often provided her with emotional and financial support, while Larry cautioned her not to take risks. Geraldine provided her with a deep knowledge of any ailments that were plaguing her and Rowena was always ready to provide advice.
Maya Angelou often credited her siblings with giving her the strength to overcome obstacles. According to many of her close friends and family, her siblings were her rock, providing a sense of safety and security throughout her life. Despite living in different states, they always managed to stay connected throughout her life, whether it be through long phone calls or visits.
Not only did Maya Angelou’s siblings provide emotional support throughout her life, they also looked after her financially. Her brother Bailey would often gather money from family and friends to send her when she was in need. Her brother Larry kept her from investing her money in high-risk investments, and her sister Geraldine was always there to give her advice about health and wellness.
Maya Angelou’s siblings were always there for her, no matter what. Throughout her rise to fame, her siblings were often the ones who provided her with the emotional and financial support she needed to succeed. The had a deep understanding of each other that was only possible through a lifetime of shared experiences.
Sibling Rivalries
Although Maya Angelou cherished her siblings, like all siblings they had their differences. From an early age, she was competitive with them, constantly comparing their successes and achievements. Her siblings have spoken openly about the competitive nature of their relationship, and it was something that carried on throughout her life.
Maya Angelou was highly critical of her siblings, expecting them to strive for excellence while criticizing their progress. Her brother Larry said of her, “She didn’t let us get away with anything, she expected us to be the best we could and anything less wasn’t going to cut it.” She expected them to emulate her with their successes and achievements, and was disappointed when they didn’t.
Despite her criticism and high expectations, it was clear to her siblings that she loved and cared for them. Her sister Geraldine said, “She was a driven person and wanted us to be the same, but it was out of love. She wanted us to succeed and knew that we could if we worked hard enough.” Despite her criticisms, her siblings loved her and looked up to her.
Although Maya Angelou expected a lot from her siblings, that expectation was out of love. Her brother Bailey said, “She always knew that we could be more, and she believed in us and pushed us to be the best we could be. In the end, she was proven right.” Maya’s siblings were successful in their own right and were always grateful for her guidance, support and love.
Sibling Memories
Despite living on opposite sides of the country for the majority of the time, Maya Angelou’s siblings shared many fond memories with her. The four of them would often spend time together, reminiscing about old times and laughing at all of the wonderful memories they shared. From long weekends spent together to trips out to the lake, they always managed to have fun and make the most of every moment.
When they were together, they often traded stories. Maya would tell them about her experiences in California, and her siblings would tell her about their own adventures. Despite the geographical distance, they shared a deep understanding of each other born from a lifetime of shared experiences.
The four siblings often travelled together and shared many family vacations. Their trips to the beach, car rides across state lines, and game nights around the kitchen table were some of their favorite memories. They laughed and had fun, providing each other with a sense of safety and security even during their most difficult times.
Maya Angelou’s siblings looked up to her, and were always excited to spend time with her. In those moments, they were all together, learning from each other and growing together as a family. Their memories of her are invaluable, and their connection to her will live on forever.
Sibling Reunions
Maya Angelou’s siblings often went years without seeing her, but they made a point to visit her if they got the chance. Her youngest brother Larry said, “Whenever possible, we took trips to go see her. We’d all try to get together in the same place at the same time if we could. Those memories of reunion are some of my favorites.”
Maya would always greet them with open arms and an inviting smile, a hospitality that wasn’t lost on her siblings. “Every time we’d see her, it was like we hadn’t been apart for a second. She’d light up the room with her presence and spirit,” said Larry.
Maya Angelou’s siblings treasured every moment they had with her. They took turns hugging her and catching up on what was going on in their lives. According to her brother Larry, “Each one of us knew that our time with her was precious and not to be wasted.”
The siblings’ visits with Maya Angelou were a much-needed reminder of the bonds that existed between them, and even in death, those bonds will never be broken. Whenever they got the chance to spend time with her, they made the most of it and cherishing every second they spent together.
