Bailey Johnson Character Analysis in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Bailey is Maya’s older brother, with whom she has a special kind of familial bond. Bailey looks out for Marguerite when they are children, and Marguerite trusts him more than anyone. Bailey’s experiences growing up as a black boy in the south demonstrate the particular challenges and indignities endured by black men in America.

Bailey Johnson Quotes in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings quotes below are all either spoken by Bailey Johnson or refer to Bailey Johnson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Race, Inequality, and Identity Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Bantam Books edition of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings published in 1993.

When I was described by our playmates as being shit color, he was lauded for his velvet-black skin…And yet he loved me.

Related Characters: (speaker),

Page Number and Citation: 22

Explanation and Analysis:

Momma intended to teach Bailey and me to use the paths of life she and her generation and all the Negroes gone before had found, and found to be safe ones.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 47

Explanation and Analysis:

The Black woman in the south who raises sons, grandsons, and nephews had her heartstrings tied to a hanging noose.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 114

Explanation and Analysis:

Bailey Johnson Character Timeline in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

The timeline below shows where the character Bailey Johnson appears in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Marguerite and her brother Bailey arrive in Stamps, Arkansas when Marguerite is three and Bailey is four. They’d been sent... (full context)

Marguerite and Bailey’s grandmother, whom they call Momma, has owned a store for 25 years. The store is... (full context)

Bailey, Marguerite’s brother, is the “greatest person in her world.” Where Marguerite perceives herself to be... (full context)

...“preach it!” then rises from her seat, evades the ushers, and pursues the Reverend again. Bailey keeps whispering “preach it!” to Marguerite, and she can barely contain her laughter. Sister Monroe... (full context)

One year later, when Marguerite is seven years old, Daddy Bailey comes to town. He is a huge, exceptionally handsome man with a great sense of... (full context)

...to be the daughter of a woman like that. Shortly after dropping them off, Big Bailey leaves St. Louis to go to California. (full context)

...fact that the schools in St. Louis are full of relatively uneducated children. Marguerite and Bailey knew how to count because of their work on the register, and they both spent... (full context)

...he tells her that if she ever tells anyone what just happened, he will kill Bailey. Marguerite is frightened, and struggles to understand but agrees to keep the incident a secret... (full context)

One afternoon when Vivien and Bailey are out for the day, Mr. Freeman calls Marguerite over to him. She resists—she has... (full context)

In the hospital Marguerite says if she tells who attacked her, Bailey will be killed. Bailey tells Marguerite no one can kill him, and Marguerite trusts him... (full context)

...It is likely that Vivien’s brothers killed him. Meanwhile, Vivien also decides that Marguerite and Bailey would be better off in Stamps. Marguerite becomes withdrawn and sullen, and believes she is... (full context)

...for the first time in her life she is liked—not because she is related to Bailey or Momma, but just because she is herself. (full context)

After this visit, Marguerite comes home and tells Bailey all about it. Then she says “By the way,” and tells Bailey Mrs. Flowers sent... (full context)

...the woman. This story is a source of endless entertainment and enjoyment for Marguerite and Bailey. (full context)

One day, Bailey, who has become more surly and unhappy after being sent away from his mother yet... (full context)

Later Bailey explains to Marguerite that he’d seen Mother at the movies—a white actress that looked exactly... (full context)

Bailey, an adolescent now, begins “playing house” with other girls around his age (11 years old)... (full context)

Later Bailey proudly tells Marguerite that Joyce has hair between her legs and under her arms because... (full context)

...to California. Marguerite is fairly certain this decision came about because of an incident involving Bailey. He had been walking home from the movies and had noticed the body of a... (full context)

...the transportation. She will ride with Marguerite on the train about a month ahead of Bailey, so as to spread out the cost of the tickets. Marguerite knows she will miss... (full context)

Momma and Marguerite and Bailey live in Los Angeles together while the children adjust to life in California. Looking back,... (full context)

Bailey and Marguerite drive to San Francisco with their mother (Vivien). They live in a dingy... (full context)

Bailey and his mother’s relationship has become fraught and contentious. They push each other’s buttons and... (full context)

Bailey moves to a motel. After a while, Maya goes to visit Bailey in his dingy... (full context)