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When I was three and Bailey four, we had arrived in the musty little town, wearing tags on our wrists which instructed - 'To whom it may concern' - that we were Maguerite and Bailey Johnson Jr. from Long Beach, California, en route to Stamps, Arkansas
When Maya is three years old and her brother, Bailey, is four, their parents divorce. Their parents send the children by train from California to Stamps, Arkansas, to live with their paternal grandmother, Annie Henderson, and her disabled adult son, Willie. -
“...Momma blew out the coal-oil lamps. She had a quiet, hard talk with Uncle Willie and called Bailey and me into the store,” (Angelou, 18).
Momma hides Willie from the KKK. The KKK was looking to kill any black man or woman they saw. Momma protects Willie and they hide in the store for the whole night. This shows Momma is very protective and caring for her son. -
“Her crisp meat pies and cool lemonade, when joined to her miraculous ability to be in two places at one time, assured her business success.” (Angelou 6)
The Depression hits Stamps and Momma barters with her customers in order to stay in business. This shows she is a good buisness woman -
"Then one of them wrapped her right arm in the crook of her left, pushed out her mouth and started to hum" (Angelou 30)
Poor white girls come to the store to taunt Momma. Momma does not let these white girls affect her confidence and she continues to be strong. On the other hand Maya is very annoyed that the white girls are mocking her and Maya is very upset -
“I didn’t actually think about facing my Mother until the last day of our journey. I was “going to California.” to oranges, sunshine, movie stars, and earthquakes and (finally I realized) to Mother.” (Angelou 201)
Momma decides to send the children back to their mother after Bailey Jr. sees a black man who was killed by white men. Bailey was very shooken up by this and wanted to know what black people did to white people to incite so much hatred. Bailey was orderd to carry the white man to the wagon. Bailey and Maya are both excited to see their Momma -
“Annie, my policy is I’d rather stick my hand in a dogs mouth than in a ni_____ mouth.” (Angelou 30)
Dr. Lincoln refuses to treat Maya, but Momma makes him give her ten dollars, which she uses go to the black dentist in Texarkana. Momma expected Dr. Lincoln to treat Maya becasue during the depreesion Momma loaned money to Dr. Lincoln and she expected a favor in return but she was mistaken