Dr. Maya Angelou

Dr. Maya Angelou (1928 - ) was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 4, 1928. Angelou was raised in St. Louis as well as Stamps, Arkansas. Angelou rose in her various chosen careers despite racial oppression. To date, Dr. Angelou is considered to be a "global renaissance woman" and one of the most influential women in modern history. Angelou is known worldwide as a poet, educator, filmmaker, actress, singer, historian, civil rights activist, and novelist.

At age fourteen, Angelou dropped out of a scholarship program for drama and dance at the Labor School in San Francisco. Angelou went on to finish high school and shortly thereafter gave birth to her son and inspiration, Guy. Like many single mothers, Angelou did what she had to do to survive, but the spirit of the arts would eventually propel her forward into the various areas for which she is now well known...