Most People Don't Know That The Childhood Home Of Maya Angelou Is Found Right Here In Arkansas
By Melanie Johnson|Published December 11, 2023
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Melanie Johnson
Author
I am a nature lover and self-proclaimed foodie wrapped in one package. In my previous life, I was an Accountant, but numbers were boring and writing is the only thing that fuels my soul. So, I write because it's my freedom...it brings me joy. When I'm not writing dope articles for OnlyInYourState, I am writing and editing articles for my online blog on Medium.com. Or, when I get the chance, I am off on a trip with my family chasing waterfalls, or simply exploring the great outdoors. My mantra is to always find the best part of every day and bask in it.
Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and Scottie Pippen are just a few of the celebrities born in Arkansas. However, there are some folks who aren’t Arkansas natives, but our state certainly defined their lives. One such person is Dr. Maya Angelou. Born in St. Louis Missouri, she grew up in the tiny town of Stamps, Arkansas. And if you ask me, it is Dr. Angelou’s unique ties to Arkansas that influenced her phenomenal career.
At first mention, the town of Stamps might not ring a bell to many folks. In fact, the quaint little town in Arkansas is only known for one thing...the place where Dr. Maya Angelou grew up.
Whether you know her as a writer, poet, singer, or civil rights activist, Dr. Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Annie Johnson, is undoubtedly one of the most influential figures in American history.
And with all that she accomplished in her life, some folks might be surprised to learn that her childhood home is right here in Stamps, Arkansas. At the age of 3, Maya came to the sleepy little town to live with her grandmother, the only Black business owner in the community.
It was there that she lived until she was a teen, attending the Brown Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church as well as the Lafayette County Training School. Unfortunately, Maya's childhood was met with much turmoil as she endured some traumatic events.
However, it was through adversity and survival that Maya wrote her renowned autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The metaphoric memoir recalls her painful childhood in Stamps...
...including her walks along Lake June, known in the book as "the pond." After her death in 2014, Stamps renamed the park surrounding the lake to the Dr. Maya Angelou City Park.
Dr. Angelou might be gone, but her legacy will always live on. She will be remembered for being the first African American poet to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration...
...as well as the first Black woman minted on an American coin. Though her life in Arkansas was tumultuous, to say the least, I believe her childhood in Stamps had a tremendous influence on her extraordinary career.
"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” - Dr. Maya Angelou (1928-2014)
So, did you know about Maya Angelou’s ties to Arkansas? And have you ever been to the tiny town of Stamps? If so, tell us in the comments below. To learn more about Maya Angelou as well as other influential African Americans with ties to Arkansas, visit the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center in Little Rock.
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