Maya Angelou (Marguerite Ann Johnson): The narrator and protagonist, a young Black girl growing up in the 1930s and 1940s. The book traces her experiences with racism, trauma, resilience, and self-discovery, from her early years in Stamps, Arkansas, to her adolescence in California.

Bailey Johnson Jr.: Maya’s older brother, her closest companion and protector. He’s witty, charming, and shares a deep bond with Maya as they navigate their unstable childhood together.

Annie Henderson (Momma): Maya and Bailey’s paternal grandmother, a strong, religious woman who raises them in Stamps, Arkansas. She owns a general store and embodies dignity and endurance in the face of racial oppression.

Vivian Baxter (Mother Dear): Maya’s mother, a beautiful, independent, and spirited woman. She’s a nurse and occasional gambler who sends Maya and Bailey to live with Momma after her marriage ends, but later reconnects with them in St. Louis and San Francisco.

Big Bailey Johnson: Maya’s father, a tall, charismatic, but unreliable man who drifts in and out of her life. He’s a Navy dietitian with a flair for language, though his self-absorption often overshadows his parental role.

Mr. Freeman: Vivian’s live-in boyfriend in St. Louis, a menacing figure who sexually assaults Maya at age eight, leading to a traumatic turning point in her life. He’s later killed by unknown assailants, possibly family associates.

Mrs. Bertha Flowers: A refined, educated Black woman in Stamps who becomes Maya’s mentor. She introduces Maya to literature and helps her regain her voice after years of silence following the assault.

Uncle Willie: Momma’s disabled son, who lives with her in Stamps and helps run the store. Stern yet caring, he teaches Maya and Bailey discipline while grappling with his own struggles in a prejudiced society.

Dolores Stockard: Big Bailey’s girlfriend in California, a jealous and volatile woman whose conflict with Maya culminates in a dramatic confrontation, pushing Maya toward independence.

Henry Reed: Maya’s classmate and valedictorian at her eighth-grade graduation in Stamps. His speech inspires her during a moment of racial humiliation caused by a white guest speaker.

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