Maya Angelou was married only once. She wed Greek sailor and aspiring musician, Tosh Angelos, in 1951 when she was only eighteen years old. Although the couple divorced the following year, their union played an important role in the development of Angelou’s career and adulthood. Subsequently, Angelou pursued many successful relationships but she never remarried. She referred to the idea of remarriage as “not a road I was willing to travel.”
Maya Angelou and Tosh Angelos met when they attended the same dance class in San Francisco, California. According to author Marcia Ann Gillespie, Tosh was “much older than Maya” and he was described by many who knew him as “a tall, handsome Greek sailor”. Despite the differences in their ages, the pair hit it off, and Angelou later described the early days of their relationship as full of joy and adventure. As Angelou wrote in her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: “Suddenly life became not only manageable, but convivial.”
In 1951, Angelou and Angelos married and soon after they welcomed their son, Boyd, into the world. Consequently, Angelou had to drop out of high school and take a clerical job during a time when such positions were uncommonly awarded to young women. Angelou later reflected that the unexpected challenge of single motherhood and a full-time job served as a blessing in disguise, as the experience ultimately strengthened her and prepared her for a successful career in activism and writing.
In the summer of 1952, Angelou and Angelos’ marriage began to deteriorate and the couple initially split before deciding on a trial separation. Angelos was granted custody of their son and Angelou left for Los Angeles to pursue a career in dance. Although the couple reconciled for a brief stint, Angelou and Angelos eventually divorced in 1954 and Angelou was unable to regain custody of her son.
Despite the tragic circumstances surrounding their union and the divorce that followed, Angelou credits the time spent with Angelos for the greater understanding she gained of her family’s history and her own identity. These revelations are reflected in her writing and activism, and as Angelou wrote in her memoir: “My marriage…had unlocked part of my heritage and prepared me for the journey of being me.”
Maya Angelou’s Relationships After Divorce
Following the dissolution of her marriage, Maya Angelou went on to engage in many successful social, creative and romantic relationships. In her younger years, she formed a close bond with playwright and poet, Lorraine Hansberry, with whom she collaborated during Hansberry’s later years. Angelou was also incredibly close with poet, writer and civil rights activist, James Baldwin, and she formed a deep connection with author, Rebecca Walker, who later wrote a book about Angelou that was published in 2017.
Angelou befriended numerous creatives throughout her life, including Oprah Winfrey, who was quoted as saying, “She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life. The world knows her as a poet, but at the same time I recognized her strength, that core of steel that allowed her spirit to soar.”
In addition to the richly rewarding relationships she forged with acquaintances, Angelou also experienced romantic liaisons throughout her life. Although she never remarried, she was close with South African freedom fighter, Vusumzi Make, and she often lovingly referred to him as “my African” due to his tireless efforts to end apartheid in his homeland. Angelou also had a close relationship with author, John S. Frye, who wrote an entire book about Maya Angelou in 1991.
Impact of Maya Angelou’s Marriage and Divorce on Her Success
Although the marriage between Maya Angelou and Tosh Angelos ended abruptly, the union ultimately proved to be a crucial part of Angelou’s greater success. The unexpected task of holding down a job and raising her son while balancing her social life, not to mention her burgeoning creative endeavors, honed Angelou’s professional endurance and led to her success in the literary, political and social justice worlds. In addition, during her time with Angelos, Angelou gained a greater understanding of her identity and family history, which are recurring themes throughout her writing and activism.
Throughout her various roles as a mother, friend, activist, writer and teacher, Angelou held steadfastly to her beliefs. She was known for her unending wisdom, grace and strength, and for the way she ignited passion in those around her through her words and presence. Because of her appreciation for beauty, Angelou’s message of self-love and acceptance continues to influence individuals all over the world.
Expanded Impact of Maya Angelou’s Marriage and Divorce
The lessons gained from Maya Angelou’s marriage and divorce had far reaching implications in her personal and professional life. By learning to cope with single motherhood, Angelou gained an enormous level of independence and insight. This enabled her to use her experiences and newfound understanding to tackle difficult political, racial and civil rights issues. She became a central figure in the liberation of African-Americans, a symbol of strong female leadership and a mentor to more than one generation.
Angelou’s divorce was partially a result of the social and financial pressures placed on women during that time. Women were expected to stay in the traditional role of wife and mother, while Angelou wanted to pursue her creative and professional ambitions. This granted her the freedom to be an independent thinker, feminist and voice for those experiencing discrimination and injustice. Her marriage and subsequent divorce allowed her to demonstrate for the world, that a woman’s strength can be underestimated yet still overcome and persevere.
Angelou was able to accept the autonomy, privilege and power associated with single motherhood. This allowed her to engage, inspire and lead the most vulnerable of her people in the most dire of times. She championed the cause of Civil Rights in the 1960s, wrote and spoke about women’s empowerment and pushed for education, racial and social justice reform as a poet and activist.
Maya Angelou and her Legacy
The effects of Maya Angelou’s marriage and divorce are still felt today. Her words, verses and stories illustrate how powerful one’s resilience and message of self-love and acceptance can be. Her commitment to working towards a better future without fear or intimidation was extremely inspiring and her powerful words continue to be shared amongst advocates of social justice and embracers of diversity.
Angelou’s marriage and divorce left an indelible mark in our collective memory, providing us with a profound inspiration for a world free of misconceptions and discrimination. She stands as a reminder that even a single life moment can have ripple effects heard long after the passage of time. That, in this wise and powerful voice from the past, she leaves a valid message of dignity, courage and strength for future generations.
Influence and Resilience of Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an icon of resilience and strength. Despite being born into challenging and unfamiliar circumstances, Angelou rose to overcome any obstacles she faced with grace, poise and an incandescent spirit. Her expertise was in inspiring, connecting and leading those around her to greater heights with her powerful words backed by a strong belief in oneself.
Her courage let her stand up for what she believed in and her resilience allowed her to be able to stand back up no matter the repercussions. Such individual strength and self-discipline was exercised throughout her life, from the marriage and divorce to her numerous successful social and romantic relationships. Through her struggles, she obtained a greater understanding of her heritage, identity and purpose, allowing her to bring out a strong message of self-empowerment.
Angelou’s resilience held her in high regard and helped her journey to receive many awards and recognitions, including more than 30 honorary degrees and receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011. As a result of her virtuous character, she was well-known and admired by many, including President Barack Obama, who applauded her lifetime achievements, stating “as a person, she was a profoundly empathetic soul.”
Importance of Understanding Maya Angelou’s Legacy
Maya Angelou left a deep and lasting legacy in our world. Her marriage, divorce and life experience make up part of this legacy and are integral to understanding Angelou as a poet, parent and fighter for social justice. By learning from her marriage and divorce we can better understand Angelou’s powerful stance on issues due to the events that shaped her and the resilience she gained from them. Angelou’s marriage and divorce provided her with independence, privilege and power, which in turn allowed her to use her voice for her people and create a lasting mark in civil rights, education, racial and social justice.
It is pivotal to understand Angelou’s legacy and the impact that it can have on individuals and society. We can use Angelou’s experiences and wisdom to help better understand our own family lives and our society’s struggles. This understanding can aid in creating a better future, as we can live as fully self-expressed, autonomous, empowered and self-loving individuals, respectfully and courageously.
