Maya Angelou was an American poet and civil rights activist. She was born on April 4th 1928, in St Louis, Missouri. She is best known for her autobiographical works and her portrayal of the challenges faced by African Americans during the civil rights era. As for the question about her siblings, Maya Angelou had four of them. Out of the four siblings, three were half-siblings, i.e. they had different parents but the same maternal grandmother. The fourth one was the only full sibling of Maya Angelou.
Out of the four siblings, two were brothers. The oldest was Bailey Jr, who was also her half-brother. He was born in 1925 and was the eldest in the family. He and Maya Angelou had the same father, Bailey Johnson Snr. The second sibling was a full brother who was born two years later, in 1927.
Maya Angelou also had two sisters who were both older than her. The oldest sister, born in 1921, was Vivian Baxter, who was Maya Angelou’s half-sister. The second one, born in 1923, was her full sister, who was also named after their mother, Vivian Johnson. Although Maya Angelou was born in 1928, she still grew up with these siblings as her mother often let her stay with her grandmother due to poverty.
Growing up with four siblings undeniably had an impact on Maya Angelou’s life. The sense of bonding, love, and understanding of family values that she would’ve gotten from them was something that she carried with her throughout her life. It is safe to say that it was partly due to her family values that she was able to achieve the greatness that she did.
In conclusion, Maya Angelou had four siblings, two of whom were half-siblings, while two were full siblings. Out of the four of them, two were brothers and two were sisters. The eldest was Bailey Johnson Jr, followed by a full brother, and then two older sisters. Growing up with four siblings would surely have had an impact on Maya Angelou’s life, which could be seen when she went on to become a successful poet and civil rights activist.
Bailey Johnson Jr
Bailey Johnson Jr was the oldest among all of Maya Angelou’s siblings. He was born in 1925 and was the eldest of the four siblings. He was also Maya Angelou’s half-brother, which means that although he had the same father as Maya Angelou, he had a different mother. He and Maya Angelou had the same father, Bailey Johnson Snr.
Bailey Johnson Jr was a great influence on Maya Angelou and her siblings. Growing up with an elder brother who was wise and caring would’ve taught Maya Angelou the values of responsibility and respect. As the eldest, he would’ve had the responsibility of taking care of not only his own siblings but also the younger ones that his mother often let Maya Angelou stay with. He truly was the foundation of the family.
Bailey Johnson Jr was a beloved brother, son and uncle. Although he passed away in 1999, he is still fondly remembered by the entire family. Maya Angelou often talked about her brother and his influence on her life in her autobiographies. To her, he was more than a brother, he was a pillar in her life that she would lean on anytime she felt lost.
Bailey Johnson Jr was indeed a huge part of Maya Angelou’s life and it was his presence that enabled her to become the great poet and civil rights activist that she became. He was the eldest amongst her four siblings and the wise and caring figure that she looked up to whenever she felt uncertain and lost.
Vivian Baxter
Vivian Baxter was Maya Angelou’s oldest sister and was born in 1921. She was Maya’s half-sister because she had a different mother than her but the same maternal grandmother. She was a huge part of Maya Angelou’s life, together with her other siblings.
Growing up, Vivian Baxter helped Maya Angelou connect with other people and nurtured the gifts that made her the poet we know her as today. Vivian Baxter was an unforgettable character who was considered wise and generous by her family. She was often quick to provide comfort and support to her siblings and in turn, such traits were also bestowed to Maya Angelou. By watching Vivian Baxter, Maya Angelou learned how to be strong and independent.
Family values were instilled within Vivian Baxter and she was a pillar of stability for Maya Angelou’s siblings. Whether it be giving advice or support, Vivian Baxter was always there for her siblings. It was her influence that enabled Maya Angelou to be the successful poet and civil rights activist that she was.
Vivian Baxter was beloved and respected by her siblings, who were grateful for her care and support. They always appreciated the wisdom and advise she provided to them and these sentiments only grew stronger when she passed away in 2001. Vivian Baxter was indeed a huge part of Maya Angelou’s life and will forever be remembered for the love, care and support that she gave to her entire family.
Vivian Johnson
Vivian Johnson was the second-eldest sibling of Maya Angelou and was her full sister. Much like her brother, Bailey Johnson Jr, she was born in 1927 and was two years younger than him. Vivian Johnson was also the only full sibling of Maya Angelou as the other three siblings were all half-siblings.
Vivian Johnson was a source of inspiration, love and care for Maya Angelou. As close in age to Maya Angelou, she had a special bond with her and it was undeniable that one of the reasons why Maya Angelou was able to become the great poet and civil rights activist that she was. Vivian Johnson was instrumental in molding the values and principles that Maya Angelou held on to till the day she passed away.
Vivian Johnson was a source of comfort and strength for her siblings. Her kind and gentle nature was something that her siblings cherished and it was because of all the love and support that she provided throughout their lives that inspired Maya Angelou to be the person she became. Vivian Johnson was a loving sister and always made sure her siblings felt loved.
It was truly because of Vivian Johnson’s presence and her deep and strong love for her siblings that enabled Maya Angelou to become who she was. In fact, Maya Angelou paid tribute to her sister by naming the protagonist in her autobiography, I Know Why The Cage bird Sings. Vivian Johnson will surely be remembered forever as a loving and supportive sister who helped Maya Angelou become who she was.
Family Values
The presence of four siblings in Maya Angelou’s life had a profound impact on her. Her life would have undoubtedly been quite different had she not had siblings. But thanks to their presence in her life, she was able to gain a deep understanding of family values and how important they are.
Having four siblings provided Maya Angelou with the understanding of trust and the need to be supportive of one another. This was something that was instilled in her since she was a child and it was these values that enabled her to be the great poet and civil rights activist that she was. Through her siblings, maya Angelou learnt the values of loyalty, respect and care which enabled her to be the person she was.
It is safe to say that family values were something that were deeply rooted in Maya Angelou and it was her siblings who enabled her to understand them better. Ultimately, it was because of her family values that she was able to achieve the greatness that she did and be remembered as a great poet and civil rights activist.
Connection with Siblings
A connection with one’s siblings is something that is quite special and it was no different for Maya Angelou. Whether it be Bailey Johnson Jr, Vivian Johnson or the other siblings, each of them had a special bond with Maya Angelou.
Although there was a huge age gap between Maya Angelou and her siblings, the love and understanding that existed between them was undeniable. This is something that Maya Angelou often talked about and it was these connections that made her the person she was. In her words, “Friends may come and go, but my siblings are with me forever”.
This speaks a lot about how special her connection with her siblings was and how she cherished it immensely. The bond that she had with each of her siblings was something that she cherished and it was this connection that helped her achieve the greatness that she did and also be remembered as an iconic poet and civil rights activist.
Memories with Siblings
Like all siblings, Maya Angelou and her siblings shared great memories together. Even though there was a huge age gap between her and her siblings, the love and understanding between them provided Maya Angelou with memories that she cherished till the day she passed away.
Maya Angelou often talked about her memories with her siblings and the impact that they had on her life. Whether it be with Bailey Johnson Jr, Vivian Johnson or any of her other siblings, each of them had left an indelible mark on Maya Angelou’s life and she remembered them ever so fondly. It was these memories and experiences that enabled her to pursue her dreams and ambition.
These memories were deeply embedded into Maya Angelou’s life and she often shared them with her readers. To her, these were life-long memories that could never be replaced or forgotten. It was these memories that enabled her to become who she was and thanks to them, she will forever be remembered as an iconic poet and civil rights activist.
