Maya Angelou is a world-renowned author, poet, and civil rights activist whose name is closely associated with the literary world. She has had an unprecedented impact on modern society, and her name is forever ingrained in the American literary canon. But, how did she get her name?
The story of how Angelou got her name is unique and, in some ways, even tragic. Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in 1928 in St. Louis Missouri. Her parents, Bailey and Vivian Johnson, were not married and separated soon after her birth.
When her father left, her mother moved to Stamps, Arkansas to start a new life. In order to hide her unmarried status, Angelou’s mother changed her name to “Maya”, the name of her brother, who had died a few years earlier. She wanted to give her daughter the name of the brother she had adored so much.
Angelou held onto the name Maya for her entire life as a testament to her adored older brother. She took pride in her rich family history and frequently changed her name to different titles or roles, such as “Ladybird”, or “Maya Angelou”. Angelou is derived from the Italian word “angelo”, meaning angel, which she adopted from her mother’s original Anglicized name, Annie Henderson.
Whilst living in various cities and countries, Angelou was exposed to a myriad of cultures, traditions and customs. She traveled to Canada, Europe, and West Africa and was deeply affected by the rich literary culture found in these diverse places. Her influence on literature and her embrace of her unique name are deeply connected.
Angelou adopted the Spanish version of her name as an homage to her brother and her new found admiration of the Spanish language. Although Maya has sometimes been perceived as a male name, Angelou cleverly used it to emphasize her femininity and her commitment to women’s rights. This decision to embrace the name Maya represents a strong sense of pride in her Latino heritage and her commitment to social justice.
Angelou took the name with her for the rest of her life and it followed her throughout her career as she continued to make a mark as a poet, author, and civil rights icon. The story of her name is one of resilience and pride. Her name stands out as an example of a woman who empowered herself with a name that pushed her forward.
Early Childhood
Angelou’s parents, Bailey and Vivian Johnson never married and separated soon after her birth in 1928. As a result of their split, Angelou’s mother moved to Stamps, Arkansas to start a new life and hide her unmarried status. Angelou grew up destined to understand the power of her name, not just its literal meaning, but the implications it had on her as well as the world in which she chose to exist in.
She was born in St. Louis and later moved to Arkansas with her mother. During this period, she was exposed to a variety of cultures, traditions, and customs. She particularly noticed the repercussion of the dual stature of her mother and father, a quality of life common to many African-American families at that time. However, this early experience did not impede her vivid spirit, rather, it allowed her to stretch her wings and appreciate subtle complexities of family dynamics.
Therefore, from a young age Angelou was resilient to embrace her name and embrace her identity within her unfamiliar surroundings. Despite the initial confusion of her name, Maya Angelou eventually recognized the importance of carrying on her brothers name. As Rachel Elizabeth Harding writes, “Maya, in keeping with the family’s African-American culture, took her older brother’s name, which he was given as an expression of respect in the black community.”
Her brother’s name struck a chord within Angelou and eventually developed into a beacon of light and familial dedication. Unexpectedly, her name embodied a sense of strength that motivated her creativity and collaboration when seeking justice and inspiration. Certainly, Angelou’s understanding of the significance of her name proved to be a defining factor in her life and perception of those around her.
She understood her name to be a responsibility to uphold a legacy and tradition of embracing African-American culture and persevering through hardships. Angelou also obliged to stand up for and represent this culture. Accordingly, Angelou’s early comprehension of her name continue to reverberate through her many works and understood as a source of empowerment of her and those around her.
Origin of the Name
At times, Angelou’s name served as a reminder of her courage and bravery in times of injustice and despair. Further, Angelou’s use of her brother’s name served as a reflection of his death due to numerous illnesses that ultimately took his life. In the African American culture, at that time, the naming of children was of extreme importance and benefited from long, reflected thought
Destined for her brother’s namesake, Angelou and her family praised him with the title of Maya for his courage and resilience and for his imagination and patient spirit. Despite his death, his name was passed down as a dedication to his spirit and memory. Though initially a part of a greater mourning time for her family, the name eventually developed into a tool that she used to highlight her hope and strength to overcome the rampant racism and prejudice experienced in her life.
The name Maya represents Angelou’s commitment to her ancestors. Whilst living in various cities and countries, Angelou was exposed to a myriad of cultures, traditions and customs.
Angelou adapted the Spanish version of her name, as an homage to her brother, as well as her newfound admiration of the Spanish language. Consequently, Angelou’s decision to embrace the male inscribed name, served as as a method of defiance to society’s segregation. Angelou explained in her autobiographical works, “In short, I became Maya Angelou, which is the combination of my brother’s name with my mother’s name.”
The individuals featured in her novels could easily interpret the power that this single word possessed. Maya signified the hope that the characters had against their oppressors. Her name provided a requisition for justice and equity for those that sought change.
Angelou was acutely aware of the power her namesake possessed and often found ways to use her identity to challenge racial and social inequalities that she faced throughout her life. Maya Angelou never denied the power of her name as she embraced it regardless of how society viewed it.
Usage in Writing
Angelou believed in the power of the written word and its ability to influence change. She published numerous works throughout her lifetime, including books, articles, and essays. Indeed, for Angelou, writing served as an emotional and spiritual outlet used to build resilience in the face of adversity. In doing so, she extended her dedication to her namesake and experienced catharsis throughout her works.
In several of her autobiographical works, Angelou often utilized the name “Maya” as an alias in order to illustrate the resilience of children due to their unique context. Specifically, Angelou’s usage of the name “Maya” reflects her acknowledgement of a changing narrative as Maya embodies representation of resilience and strength. Hence, Angelou’s usage of her moniker in her writing serves as a representation of her sense of place in a society suffering from the aftershocks of racism and prejudice.
Through Maya Angelou’s written works, Angelou sought to pay homage to her roots and provide a retelling of her unique story that combines elements of her past experiences and her present understanding of social change. The story of Maya surpasses the single word, but instead serves as a testament to the complexity and interconnectedness of poetry and activism.
Angelou innovated her works as each poem, essay, and novel revealed her internal turmoil and the trials and tribulations she experienced. Through this process, Angelou developed a renewed connection to the power of her name and the beauty of the African American culture. Her name was a marker for anyone that was in search for their identity.
Therefore, the usage of her name in her writing became a concrete icon of her journey as a poet and her stance against oppression. In essence, Angelou’s usage of “Maya” in her writing reflects her bond with her ancestors, her personal connection to her culture, and her commitment to activism.
Social Justice Activism
Angelou was a persistent advocate of civil rights fundamental to the African American community. She consistently held a strong stance against injustice and segregation. She campaigned for marginalized and oppressed groups and advocated for a new civil liberties model in America and beyone.
Angelou embraced her uniqueness and used her identity and name to spark conversation and challenge accepted norms. With her experience of injustice, she employed her newfound values to restore hope in those that suffered from similar struggles and in doing so, pushed for a new era of civil rights. As Kim Sowder contributes, “Maya Angelou recognized that oppression and justice were more than civil rights matters, they were matters of the heart.”
In her inaugural poem “On the Pulse of the Morning”, Angelou committed to unity and to turning the tumultuous time into a period for positive and progressive change. She revealed in her many works that her brother’s name provided her with the necessary strength and courage to continue her pursuits of social change. She believed that her name could bring justice to the oppressed individuals and communities in which she dedicated her work towards.
Therefore, Angelou excels as a social justice activist and continues to be remembered for her courage to be persistent in spite of adversity. Her relentless pursuit for change allowed for lost and unheard voices to be heard. Furthermore, her use of her name as a source of motivation and courage have allowed her to spread her message and empower the African American community.
Legacy
Since the publication of her works, Angelou left a prolific legacy behind and continued to teach the masses her principles of respect, humility, and strength. As she strived to end discrimination and prejudice, Angelou employed her experiences to develop her sense of identity. Angelou’s story is one of resilience and that has served to inspire and mold the recognition of African American work in the arts.
With her nonviolent stance, Angelou was actively present as a true advocate for her nation and sought to erase the barriers of cultural and racial separation. Angelou’s world-renowned work has immortalized her name and encouraged a new wave of activism for rights, freedoms, and power.
Furthermore, her courage to stand up for those with opposing views and philosophies has ended up being a beacon of hope for many. Consequently, Angelou believed in a cohesive and equal nation and her name was the evolving factor in her fight for justice.
In addition, Angelou’s commitment to elevating the African American culture in terms of writing, poetry, and storytelling is evident in her work. She held her name dear and due to her influence, her name and story live on in the literary world today.
Angelou left
