How Many Brothers And Sisters Did Maya Angelou Have - Poetry & Poets (2024)

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Maya Angelou had six siblings – three brothers and three sisters. Her eldest brother, Bailey Johnson Jr., was a preacher in Stamps, Arkansas. Her second brother, Larry, was born 19 months after Maya and tragically died at age eight. Her third brother, Igor, was born when Maya was fourteen. Unlike Maya’s brothers, all of her three sisters had different fathers. Her eldest sister, Vivian Baxter, was born before the family moved from Stamps to St. Louis. Angelou’s second sister, Marguerite, was born in San Francisco, California. Her youngest sister, Ida, was born in St. Louis.

With little parental guidance, Angelou and her siblings mostly looked after themselves. The children were so resourceful and self-disciplined that they created a family covenant and took turns enforcing the rules upon each other. As Angelou grew up, her career opportunities appeared more promising than those of her brothers. Thus, she supported her family with her earnings.

The first brother, Bailey Jr., was heavily involved in politics and the civil rights movement. For example, he volunteered as a 17-year-old for the NAACP and served in the United States Air Force for twenty-one years. Unfortunately, Bailey contracted diabetes and subsequently passed away in 2000. Despite his absence, Angelou and her siblings remained as close as ever.

Igor, the third brother, had a profound influence on Angelou’s pursuit of writing and learning. He spent considerable time with Angelou and encouraged her to read, write and learn about the world around her. By fourteen, Angelou had read the entire encyclopedia. Igor moved away when Angelou was a teenager and ultimately died in 2012.

Surprisingly, none of Angelou’s young siblings ever had children of their own, despite the pressures of patriarchy and tradition. Instead, they all pursued a life of education and career success. Vivian and Ida both pursued careers in nursing and earned Bachelor’s degrees. Marguerite taught music in New York and Atlanta. Together, the Angelou siblings established a strong bond that kept them connected to each other and inspired each of them to believe in themselves.

The Angelou siblings played an indelible role in Maya Angelou’s development as a writer and thinker. Despite the hardships and constraints of racism and marginalization, the Angelou siblings maintained a close bond. Their resourcefulness, sense of responsibility and personal ambition paved the way for Angelou’s personal and professional success. Ultimately, six siblings played a pivotal role in Angelou’s journey to becoming a renowned author.

Vivian Baxter

Vivian Baxter was the oldest sibling of Maya Angelou, born before the family’s move from Stamps, Arkansas. Vivian was a decisive figure in the family’s decision to move to California in 1940 and she would also be an influential figure in her younger sister’s life. Unlike Angelou’s brother’s, Vivian and her sisters had different fathers and never shared the same sense of paternity. But Vivian helped foster a close-knit relationship between all of the siblings, despite their diverse backgrounds.

Vivian Baxter was able to be a mentor for her younger siblings in many ways. She helped encourage Angelou’s intellectual development and cultivated reading habits which would shape the young writer’s trajectory. Vivian even gave Angelou the encyclopedia set she later devoured. Ultimately, despite her young age, Vivian Baxter was an essential figure in the Angelou family and showed her younger sisters how to make progress in the face of adversity.

Vivian Baxter was committed to leading a successful life. She earned a degree in nursing and established a career in the medical field. She worked hard to give her siblings the opportunity to learn and get ahead in life. Vivian Baxter remains an inspirational figure in Angelou’s life, as her tenacity, dedication, and resourcefulness instilled a special bond between the Angelou siblings.

Vivian Baxter was a beacon of hope and stability in the Angelou family’s tumultuous childhood. Though she was only a few years older than Angelou, she provided a loving foundation for her younger siblings and demonstrated maturity beyond her years. Vivian Baxter remains a role model for the Angelou family and an example of what drive and resilience can accomplish.

Marguerite Johnson

Maya Angelou also had a middle sister, Marguerite Johnson, born in San Francisco, California. Marguerite was a great source of support and love for her younger siblings and she often protected them from their oppressive surroundings. Marguerite and Maya were almost like twins, sharing a special bond despite the three-year age gap between them.

Marguerite was known in the family as a force of kindness and support. She had a knack for settling disputes and a generous spirit, something her younger siblings knew they could rely on. Angelou’s grandmother also recognized her strong bond with Marguerite, nicknaming them as “my ol’ twins.” Even though their physical environment was often dark and oppressive, the Johnson sisters always felt safe with each other.

Just like her older sister Vivian, Marguerite Johnson left home at 17 years old after the death of their father and pursued an education. She attended Berkeley High School and eventually, became a music teacher in New York and Atlanta. Like her siblings, Marguerite was determined and resilient, never allowing the constraints placed upon her by society to affect her motivation.

Angelou developed a special admiration for her middle sister. In her book, Lie Down in Darkness, Angelou referred to Marguerite as “the high priest of my being.” They wrote each other letters and had lengthy phone conversations in which they discussed their philosophical musings and experiences. Angelou always considered Marguerite to be inspirational and an important source of insight and validation.

Though always overshadowed by Angelou’s other accomplishments, Marguerite Johnson was an essential figure in Angelou’s personal growth. She was instrumental in the activist’s resilience and the strength of the Angelou siblings. Her intelligence, kindness, and dedication remain an example of strength and empowerment to this day.

Igor Johnson

Maya Angelou was also blessed with a younger brother, Igor Johnson. Igor was born in St. Louis when Angelou was fourteen. While his older brother Bailey had a strong interest in politics, Igor’s interests lay in music and books. He was a passionate reader and a skilled violinist, and his love of knowledge had a profound impact on Angelou.

Angelou and Igor often visited the public library together. Igor encouraged her to read and introduced her to philosophy and literature. He also enriched her understanding of music and inspired her to explore a variety of instruments. Though Angelou was a prolific reader and had already read the encyclopedia at fourteen, she credits Igor Johnson as a source of inspiration and knowledge.

Igor Johnson was also a very protective brother. When Angelou was sixteen, he moved to Seattle, Washington, to live with their Uncle Willie. His presence allowed his younger sister to explore her own opportunities without fear. He advocated for Angelou and her creative direction when others tried to dissuade her. Igor was confident in his sister’s ability to explore the world and create meaningful work.

Igor Johnson was beloved by his siblings for his strong work ethic, kindness, and intelligence. His brothers and sisters looked up to him with admiration and gratitude. Before leaving for Seattle, Igor dedicatedly spent hours helping Angelou study, take care of herself, and understand the world. His encouraging nature was instrumental in Angelou’s career, in spite of their brief time together.

Igor Johnson left a lasting impression on his siblings and Angelou always held him in high esteem. His drive and beautiful relationship with music shaped both Angelou and his siblings’ understanding of the world around them. His encouraging nature opened a world of opportunities for his younger sister, inspiring her to explore, create and never give up.

Bailey Johnson Jr.

Maya Angelou’s oldest brother, Bailey Johnson Jr., facilitated her earliest introduction to the civil rights movement. Bailey was a preacher in Stamps, Arkansas and since his teens, was heavily involved in politics. As a young volunteer for the NAACP, he was an ally for the African-American community in rural Arkansas.

Though the family moved to California when Angelou was three, she kept close contact with her older brother through letters and phone calls. Bailey continued to support his siblings and helped them to keep up with their studies and participate in civil rights activities. He also recruited his brother and sisters to help him in various campaigns.

Bailey was a dedicated supporter of the civil rights movement and even enlisted in the U.S Air Force in his twenties. He served as a Tuskegee Airman and was among the last to be discharged. Bailey’s commitment to the civil rights movement deeply impacted Angelou, inspiring her to pursue her own career in activism and human rights.

Like all of his siblings, Bailey Johnson Jr. was a positive force in the Angelou family. His resilience and courage taught Angelou and her brother’s the value of defending their rights, even in the face of inequality and oppression. Though Maya Angelou eventually moved away from Stamps, her strong bond with her brother made a lasting impression on her and ultimately shaped her understanding of the civil rights movement.

Bailey Johnson Jr. impacted Angelou and her siblings’ views on race and activism. His leadership and sacrifice were evident in everything he did, and they remain inspiring to this day. He used his position to defend and support the African-American community, reminding his siblings what true courage is.