Born in 1928, she spent early childhood between her birth place of Missouri and her grandmother’s home in Arkansas. At age 8, she was assaulted by her mother’s boyfriend and after disclosing to her family, her attacker was jailed for one day, and murdered after his release. Maya was then mute for nearly five years, believing “my voice killed him; I killed that man, because I told his name. And then I thought I would never speak again, because my voice would kill anyone." With the help of a teacher and access to the literature she grew to love, Maya began her healing process.