Episodes
| Episode | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | 20130408 | Maya Angelou has chronicled her life in a series of bestselling autobiographies. Now, finally, she shares the deepest personal story of her life - her relationship with her mother, the extraordinary and feisty Vivian Baxter. 'The first decade of the twentieth century was not a great time to be born black and poor and female in St Louis, Missouri, but Vivian Baxter was born black and poor, to black and poor parents. Later she would grow up and be called beautiful.' Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. The story of Maya Angelou's relationship with her extraordinary mother Vivian Baxter. |
| 02 | 20130409 | As a young mother with a marriage on the rocks, Vivian Baxter sent her two young children to be looked after by their grandmother in Stamps Arkansas. Nine years later a reluctant Maya has to return to California to live with a mother she barely knows. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. After nine years with her grandmother, Maya reluctantly returns to live with her mother. |
| 03 | 20130410 | The teenage Maya Angelou is settling into her new life with her mother in California but, when she's tempted to stay out late, she gets into trouble with a feisty Vivian Baxter who has learned the hard way how to stand up for herself. Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. A teenage Maya Angelou stays out late and gets into trouble with her feisty mother. |
| 04 | 20130411 | By the age of 22, Maya Angelou has left home with her five year old son to live in rented rooms with cooking privileges down the hall. But, in spite of her independence, her mother is always on hand to support her. And it's her support that gives Maya the courage to live her life with pizzazz Read by Adjoa Andoh Abridged and produced by Jane Marshall A Jane Marshall production for BBC Radio 4. By the age of 22, Maya has left home with her five-year-old son to live in rented rooms. |
| 05 LAST | 20130412 | Maya is in Sweden for the filming of her screenplay and in need of some motherly support. |