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SUMMARY: Jack Nicklaus ( January 21, 1940) American golfer
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Jack William Nicklaus who was on born January 21, 1940 is widely regarded as the greatest professional golfer of all time. His records in major championships have earned him the nickname “The Golden Bear”. Jack Nicklaus has accumulated an astounding record of 18 professional majors in a PGA Tour career that lasted 25 years, (1962 to 1986). Later, when on the Champions Tour, (which is the senior version of the PGA Tour) he won 8 of that tour’s major championships between 1990 and 1996. It is only a reflection to Jack Nicklaus’s golf brilliance that both records still stand today.

Jack did not limit himself to only activities on the golf course but has also taken part in many off-course activities, that include golf course design, golf instruction book writing, and running his own tournament on the PGA Tour,(aptly named the Memorial Tournament). In conjunction with Arnold Palmer and Gary Player (who are known collectively as the “Big Three”), he is credited with turning golf into the major spectator sport. While Palmer is credited with bringing golf into the television era, it was the developing Nicklaus-Palmer-Player rivalry that drove subsequent interest.

Jack Nicklaus was born in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in the suburb of Upper Arlington, and attended Upper Arlington High School. This is where he earned his nickname “The Golden Bear”, as that was the school’s mascot. After overcoming a mild case of polio as a child, he then took up golf at the age of ten, where he shot 51 for his first nine holes. At 13, he then broke 70. He showed early golf genuis when he won the first of five straight Ohio State Junior titles at the age of twelve. He then went on to win the Ohio State Open in 1956 at age 16, while competing against professionals. At the 1960 U.S. Open, he shot a 282, finishing second by two strokes to Arnold Palmer, who won the tournament with a final round 65. Even today this score remains the lowest ever made by an amateur player in the U.S. Open. He went on to represent the United States, against Great Britain and Ireland, on winning Walker Cup teams in both 1959 and 1961, winning both of his matches in each contest. He was also a member of the victorious 1960 U.S. Eisenhower Trophy team, winning the unofficial individual title with a four-round score of 269,(another record which still stands). It is understandable when Nicklaus was named the world’s top amateur golfer by Golf Digest magazine for three straight years, in 1959-1961.

In 1962 Nicklaus began his professional career. His first professional win came in the same year, when he defeated the heavily favored Arnold Palmer at Oakmont for the 1962 U.S. Open. Before the end of the year Nicklaus had picked up two more wins, with those being the Seattle Open and the Portland Open back-to-back. He finished 1962 with over $60,000 in prize-money, which placed him third on the tour money list. He was then named Rookie of the Year. What was to follow was a career filled with wins on every level and almost every major golf course in the world. The highlight of Jack Nicklaus career being known as the Career Slam in 1978 when he won all four majors three times. Until Tiger Woods, no other golfer had won every major more than once.

Jack and his wife, Barbara have 5 children and 20 grandchildren. They stay busy with charity work including major work and donations for children’s hospitals. He counts among his highest honors the following awards:

• 1985 Golf Family of the Year presented by National Golf Foundation
• 1992 Family of the Year presented by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association
• 1999 Father of the Year Award presented by Minority Golf Association of America.

Filed Under: Biography

SUMMARY: Napoleon Hill (October 26, 1883–November 8, 1970) American author
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Think and Grow Rich is a best-selling novel by Napoleon Hill. Hill’s famous expression was, “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve”. Hill stated he thought 98% of people had no firm beliefs. Hill was known for tacking controversial subjects through his writings including racism, slavery, oppression, failure, revolution, war and poverty.

Early Years
Born into poverty on October 26, 1883, Napoleon Hill was born in a two room cabin in Wise County, Virginia. At ten years old, Hill’s mother died and his father remarried two years later. Hill was known for being a very rebellious boy. When Hill was 13 he began writing for local newspapers. He saved his earnings to enter law school, but eventually withdrew from school for financial difficulties.

Beginning of a Successful Career
In 1908, he interviewed industrialist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie was a powerful industrialist and taught Hill about the theory of success. Carnegie was impressed with Hill and commissioned him to interview over 500 successful men and women. These interviews took place over twenty years in which he interviewed some of the most successful people in the world including; Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell, George Eastman, Henry Ford, Elmer Gates, John D. Rockefeller, Charles M. Schwab, F.W. Woolworth, William Wrigley Jr., John Wanamaker, William Jennings Bryan, Joseph Stalin, Theodore Roosevelt, William H. Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Charles Allen Ward and Jennings Randolph. These interviews inspired Hill to publish The Law of Success in 1928. Hill’s Achievement formula was later published in home study courses called “Mental Dynamite”.

In 1937, Hill produced his best-selling novel, Think and Grow Rich. This book is a combination of thirteen principles intended to achieve success. It is a motivational book that teaches the importance of overcoming fears that affect one’s thinking and potential. Hill refers to the “Carnegie Secret”, an idea that is his foundation of all success. Since its first publishing, Think and Grow Rich has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.

Views
Hill’s writing’s reflected that people must have a full understanding of the spirit of giving. He named his concept, The Golden Rule.” He believed that “there is no such thing as something for nothing.” A devout Christian, Hill did not see any conflicting views between his religious beliefs and his success philosophy.

Hill also coined the phrase ‘Master Mind’ which is defined as “coordination of knowledge and effort in spirit of harmony, between two or more people, for the attainment of a definite purpose.” His ‘Master Mind’ philosophy states there are two characteristics of these people; economic and psychic. Hill believed the human mind is a form of energy, part of it spiritual in nature. For the development of this theory, Hill was awarded an honorary doctorate degree of Literature by Pacific International University.

The United States of America
Hill believed the U.S. Constitution was one of the finest living examples of the Philosophy of Achievement in existence. He believed the power the Constitution holds and represents is a power attainable by anyone.

Death
Napoleon Hill passed away on November 8, 1970 in South Carolina. His final book, You Can Work Your Own Miracles was published a year after his death. Hill’s rags-to-riches story is a wonderful example to modern America. Hill has influenced millions of people to think harder about hard work and putting effort into things in order to achieve success. Hill often stated people are free to believe what they want to believe and the power of personal beliefs play a huge role in the success of that individual. Hill is considered to have influenced more people into success than any other person in history.

Filed Under: Biography

SUMMARY: Mahatma Gandhi (October 2, 1869–January 30, 1948) Indian political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement
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Mahatma Gandhi was known as an international symbol for a free India. Gandhi’s example of peace and freedom has being hailed by millions of people all over the world. He is recognized as one of the most influential leaders of the 20th century.

History of Gandhi
Born Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi in the town Porbandar on October 2, 1869, Gandhi was born a Hindu and born into the second highest cast. The Hindu religion believes that people are born into a cast that they stay in their whole life. If they are good, they will remain in this cast to their next life, however, if they are bad, they will be sent to a lower cast. There is also a sect known as the Untouchables, these are people without a cast. Many people treat untouchables poorly and they live in the biggest poverty.

During the time Gandhi was born, the British controlled India. India lived in extreme poverty since the British would seize all their riches. Gandhi was the youngest of six children and was married at the age of 13 and became a father at 16. He later described his marriage as a brother-sister relationship.

Gandhi moved to London and was educated at the University College in law. He returned to India in 1891 and established a law practice in Bombay. Two years later, he moved to South Africa and worked for an Indian law firm. Gandhi arrived in Durban, South Africa and was often treated poorly for being Indian. Gandhi was pushed out of a train for refusing to give up his seat to a white person. This was a turning point in his life and he began his fight for rights for Indians.

Peace and Freedom
For 20 years Gandhi lived in South Africa teaching passive resistance to authorities, this lead to his imprisonment several times. It has been said Gandhi was inspired by the writings of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy; he also was a firm believer in the teachings of Christ. In 1910, he founded a cooperative community for Indians near Durban. He was then influential in the government’s decision to allow recognition of Indian marriages and the abolition of the poll tax. Shortly after this success, he returned to India.

Gandhi traveled his country learning of his people and quickly was known for fasting and wearing a simple loin cloth and a shawl. One of Gandhi’s greatest successes for independence was when he asked the whole nation to strike for one day. Everything was closed and the British could not use the telegraph to communicate with their mother country. This was the first time the British truly recognized his power in India.

In 1930, Gandhi started a march over 140 miles to the Arabian Sea. The British had total control of India’s salt. Gandhi asked the people to refuse to pay taxes, particularly on the salt. He marched to the Sea and grabbed a handful of salt and encouraged others to do the same. The police escorted them from the beaches and Gandhi moved his people to the factories to claim the salt. They were severely beaten down by the British until they could walk no further. This revolt proved Gandhi’s peace and freedom, as not one Indian used physical contact to fight back.

Religious Freedom and Death
Gandhi fought for peace and understanding between religions. In 1932, he took a “fast unto death” vow to help the Hindu Untouchables. Gandhi once said, “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. He did not believe in violence and the constant battles between the Hindus and Moslems left him saddened and discouraged. Shortly after India was divided into Pakistan and India, Gandhi fasted to stop the religious violence. He was shot by a Hindu fanatic on January 30, 1948.

Mahatma Gandhi’s place in humanity has had a lasting effect on the world even to this day. His teachings inspired others to fight for freedom in a non-violent way, most notably, Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.

Filed Under: Biography

SUMMARY: Malcolm Forbes (August 19, 1919 – February 24, 1990) publisher of Forbes magazine, founded by his father B.C. Forbes and today run by his son Steve Forbes.
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Many people know of Forbes Magazine and the millions of dollars in revenue it generates a year. Most people know of Steve Forbes, the son of the late Malcolm Forbes. Those who do know of Malcolm Forbes knew of his lavish 70th birthday party in Morocco or knew of his successes as the publisher for Forbes magazine for 33 years. Forbes was also a less than successful politician for New Jersey. However despite his successes, it was his lavish lifestyle that caught the attention of many people.

Early Life
Malcolm Forbes was born in New York City on August 19, 1919 to Scottish immigrant, B.C. Forbes. B.C. Forbes founded Forbes magazine in 1917. Malcolm Forbes grew up in New Jersey with 4 brothers. He attended Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He graduated in 1941 with his Bachelor of Arts degree. Shortly after, he joined the U.S. Army and was wounded shortly before the Battle of the Buldge. He was awarded the Purple Heart and a bronze star for demonstrating initiative, alert action and resourcefulness.

Political Career
Forbes returned home from the Army with an honorable discharge and began work for his father at Forbes magazine. He married Roberta Remsen Laidlaw in 1941; the two were married for 39 years before they eventually divorced. In 1951, Forbes began his political career, being voted into the New Jersey State Senate. He also ran for the Governor of New Jersey in 1957, but was defeated. He remained in the Senate until 1958.

Forbes Magazine
In 1954, Malcolm was named Editor and Publisher of Forbes magazine after the death of his father, B.C. Forbes. In 1964, he acquired sole ownership of the company with the passing of his brother, Bruce Charles Forbes. The death of his family members left Forbes with a rich inheritance. Forbes also obtained millions by dabbling in real estate sales and other ventures.

The Party Life
Forbes was often seen with Elizabeth Taylor, but consistently denied rumors of a relationship. In 1973, Forbes became the first person to fly across America in a hot air balloon. To recognize this accomplishment, President Ford awarded him the Harmon Trophy in 1975. In 1974, Forbes was named to the Board of Directors for the Balloon Federation of America. In 1975, he became a member of the Board of Directors for the National Aeronautic Association and later was elected Executive Vice President.

Forbes earned the nickname “the happiest millionaire” for his flamboyant lifestyle and lavish parties. Forbes was a constant fixture at NYC’s famous “Cat Club” on Wednesday nights. Later in life Forbes became a motorcycle fan and invested in several Harley Davidson motorcycles. He founded the motorcycle club, The Capalitist Tools. Forbes estate in New Jersey was also a regular meeting spot for motorcycle conventions. Many know of his gift, Purple Passion a Harley-Davidson, to Elizabeth Taylor. In 1999 he was inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame.

The Last Party
Malcolm Forbes last birthday party was thrown in Morocco in September 1989, for his 70th birthday. This was perhaps one of the most lavish parties ever thrown and those who were not invited surely knew what they missed. In 1990, Forbes died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Far Hills, New Jersey. Shortly after his death, an article by OutWeek covered his life, “The Secret Life of Malcolm Forbes”. In the article written by Michelangelo Signorile, he “outed” Forbes as a gay man.

Forbes was a respected individual by George Bush and Ronald Reagan. In fact, they both said he was a “dear friend, who would be greatly missed.” Forbes time with the publishing world has inspired business leaders across America. Forbes legacy on the publishing, political and “party world” will remain a fragment of history that greatly impacted the United States.

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SUMMARY: Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) Italian Renaissance scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor
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Many refer to Leonard di Vinci as a “universal genius”. Di Vinci is considered one of the greatest painters of all time. Leonardo di Vinci paintings can be found all over the world in re-prints and some originals in museums. Perhaps two of Leonard di Vinci’s greatest accomplishments include the “Mona Lisa” and “The Last Supper.”

Leonardo di Vinci’s Childhood
Leonardo di Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 in Vinci, Italy. At the time he was born without a surname and was given the last name di Vinci to represent where he was born. Not much is known about Leonardo’s childhood other than he had 17 half brothers and sisters. He grew up in his father’s home and was exposed to a wonderful world of literature and painting. When Leonard was 14, he was apprenticed to Andrea di Cione, better known as Verrocchio. While there, Leonard learned much about painting and sculpting. He even posed as “David” for Verrocchio’s famous sculpture. While apprenticing Leonardo also helped paint the “Baptism of Christ” by Verrocchio.

In 1478, di Vinci became an independent master and received his first commission to paint an altarpiece for the chapel of Palazzo Vecchio, it was never executed. He later began work on his first painting “The Adoration of the Magi”, this too was left unfinished.

The Last Supper
In 1482 Leonardo began a commission for the Duke of Milan. He spent 17 years with the Duke and not only sculpted and painted but designed weapons, buildings and machinery. During this time, he produced numerous studies on nature, machinery, mathematics, architecture and designs for advanced weapons. It has been said that Leonardo designed helicopters, tanks, solar power, calculators and other inventions that were well above his time frame. Although none of these inventions came to be until later, he is still credited toward their original thought. Evidence has shown that Leonardo di Vinci recorded his studies in illustrated notebooks. He had several apprentices and pupils and often wrote texts that were later complied as Treatise on Painting. From 1495 to 1497, Leonardo worked on his masterpiece “The Last Supper”, a commission for the monastery of Santa Maria della Grazie. Sadly, he was experimenting with oil paint on dry plaster and the painting started to deteriorate by 1500. Much of the original surface of this world-renowned masterpiece is lost. Leonardo also painted another masterpiece at the same time as “The Last Supper” the “Virgin of the Rocks” for the Confraternity of the Immaculate Conception.

Leonardo di Vinci was often compelled to learn new subjects; this lead to him leaving many of his art pieces unfinished. During the 17 years he spent with the Duke, only 6 works were completed. In 1499, Leonardo began work for Cesare Borgia, in which he traveled for a year with the army as a military engineer. During this time, he designed a bridge to span the “golden horn” in Constantinople and he also received a commission to paint “The Battle of Anghiari.”

Mona Lisa
It is reported that in 1503, Leonardo di Vinci began work on another masterpiece the “Mona Lisa.” From 1513 to 1516 he worked for the Pope where he studied human anatomy and physiology. King Francis I offered Leonardo the title of Premier Painter and Engineer and Architect of the King. Francis I and Leonardo spent the last years of his life together as he produced studies for the Virgin Mary from “The Virgin Child and St. Anne.” During this time, he suffered paralysis in his right hand. He ended up dying on May 2, 1519 in Cloux, France. To this day, Leonardo di Vinci is considered a “renaissance man” as his accomplishments were so great. Leonardo was considered to be a Tuscan polymath, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, painter, sculptor, architect, botanist, musician and writer.

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SUMMARY: Maria Callas (December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) Greek American operatic soprano
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During the post World War II period, many were enthralled by the operatic soprano voice of Maria Callas. Enduring myopia, poverty and eventually vocal decline, Maria Callas’s vocal talents are still best-selling albums to this day.

Early Life
Maria Callas was born to Greek parents on December 2, 1923. Her original birth certificate stated her name to be Sophia Cecelia Kalos. Her father changed the name to “Callas” to make it more manageable. Callas grew up in a home of a dysfunctional marriage. Her parents were ill-matched from the beginning and the marriage had financial and personal strains. In 1937, Maria’s mother took her and sister and returned to Athens. Callas and her mother never had a good relationship and by 1950, Callas seized communication altogether with her mother. Maria received her musical education in Athens, studying with Maria Trivella. Originally she was not looked on as beautiful, as a young girl, she wore glasses to help her see better and was “pudgy” according to critics. Once Maria was able to train her voice, her critics soon looked past her “larger” body and were infatuated in her voice.

Opera
Callas made her Opera debut at the Athens Opera on July 4, 1941. In 1945, she returned to America and was heard by Zenatello. Zenatello acquired Callas for La Gioconda in the Arena at Verona. Her career soon took off and she was demanded in theaters.

Maria made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera on October 28, 1956. Unfortunately during this time, an article was published by Time magazine stating they had done an interview with her mother and she was portrayed as an ungrateful daughter. The New York public did not take well to Callas and reacted coldly to her debut. However, by the end of the act, Maria received 16 curtain calls.

Her career spanned until her last performance on July 5, 1965. Her vocal decline forced her to cancel several shows previously and her myopia began to make it harder to see on stage.

Personal life
Maria Callas is best known for her 9 year love affair with Aristotle Onassis. Before meeting Onassis, Callas was married to Giovanni Battista Meneghini. She was introduced to Onassis at a party in 1957. They began an affair that attracted much publicity in the media and on September 3, 1959, Maria left her husband for Onassis. Sources claim that Callas and Onassis had a child who died shortly after childbirth. Other sources state she had an abortion. However, it was know that Callas was unable to bear children. Her relationship with Onassis ended in 1968, when Onassis dropped Callas for Jacqueline Kennedy. Maria was completely devastated by this and close friends said she never recovered form the heartache. The death of Aristotle Onassis on March 15, 1975, is considered to be one of the major factors behind Maria’s death.

Another problem that plagued Callas was her weight. When she began her career, she was a full-figured woman that weighed “no more than 200 pounds”. In 1953, Callas decided she needed to have a thinner face to accommodate her stage persona. During 1953 and 1954, Callas lost 80 pounds and was praised by critics for now being “the most beautiful woman on stage.” It has long been debated that her weight loss caused vocal strain to her voice, while others claim her voice softened when she lost the weight.

Death
At age 53, Maria Callas died in Paris of a heart attack on September 16, 1977. A funerary liturgy was held in Paris and her ashes were interred at the Père Lachaise Cemetery. After being stolen from the cemetery, her ashes were later recovered and scattered over the Aegean Sea off the coast of Greece.

The artistic genius of Maria Callas has left a long-lasting effect on operatic soprano. Michelle Krisel calls Callas “the performer who changed the standard by which all opera singers are judged.”

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SUMMARY: Nellie Bly (May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922) American journalist
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Nellie Bly focused her attention on women’s rights issues. Nellie invented undercover investigative reporting. Nellie is also known for a record-breaking trip around the world.

Early Years
Born on May 5, 1864, Nellie Bly was originally named Elizabeth Jane Cochran. Her mother taught her how to gain attention for herself by wearing dressing her in a bright pink gown, this earned her the nickname, “Pink”. Bly was born about forty miles north of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. Bly’s father died when she was six. Her father did not have a formal will and the family’s estate was sold in auction. Shortly after her father’s death, her mother re-married. Unfortunately her new husband was an abusive alcoholic and her mother filed for divorce when Bly was 14.

Career
In 1908, a sexist column was published in the Pittsburgh Dispatch. Bly was so appalled by the article that she wrote a letter to the editor. Impressed by Bly’s earnestness and spirit, he asked her to join the newspaper. She was hired and given the pen name, Nellie Bly. At that time it was improper for a woman to write for a newspaper and use her true identity.

Nellie primarily focused her work on women’s rights issues. She was a master at under-cover journalism and wrote a series of investigative articles on women in factories. Bly once posed as a poor sweat-shop worker and published a story on the cruelty and awful conditions in which the women worked. The sweatshop owners threatened to pull their advertising from the Dispatch and Nellie was assigned to work on the fashion column.

Nellie went to Mexico on a six moth hiatus at the age of 21. She wrote articles on the working poor in Mexico and the unfair treatment they received from their government. Her writings were published in a book, Six Months in Mexico. Bly was eventually run out of the country by the government when they threatened her with arrest.

In 1887, Nellie joined the staff of the New York World. The first assignment she undertook was to be an undercover mental patient at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell Island. Bly practiced for a night in front of a mirror to ask like an “insane” person. She was deemed insane by the court and was committed to Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum. During her time in the Asylum, Bly determined that many of the patients were “sane” individuals who were treated unfairly. She stated the food was inedible and the staff was rude and used physical force to quiet the patients. Of this experience, Bly wrote:

“What, excepting torture, would produce insanity quicker than this treatment? Here is a class of women sent to be cured. I would like the expert physicians who are condemning me for my action, which has proven their ability, to take a perfectly sane and healthy woman, shut her up and make her sit from 6 A. M. until 8 P. M. on straight-back benches, do not allow her to talk or move during these hours, give her no reading and let her know nothing of the world or its doings, give her bad food and harsh treatment, and see how long it will take to make her insane. Two months would make her a mental and physical wreck.”

After 10 days, Bly was released by request from the New York World. Her report later published as a book, Ten Days in a Madhouse, brought national attention to Bly and the terrible conditions of the patients. A grand jury launched its own investigation and eventually gave $850,000 for proper care of these patients.

In 1888, Bly took a 72 day tour of the world. This famous journey lead Bly to become a symbol of independence of women.

Later Years and Death
Bly married Robert Seamon in 1894. Seamon was 40 years older than Bly and despite harsh criticism from family and others, the couple stayed married until his death ten years later. After his death, Bly began covering women’s suffrage stories.

On January 2, 1922, Bly died of pneumonia in New York City.

Filed Under: Biography

SUMMARY: Maya Angelou (b. Apr 4, 1928) American poet, dancer, playwright, director, author
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Pulitzer Prize winner, Maya Angelou is know best for her six autobiographies including, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Ladies Home Journal named Angelou one of the 30 most powerful women in America. All of Angelou’s novels are taught in schools or in Universities, they are hailed as some of the greatest literature in American history.

Early Years

Angelou was born, Marguerite Johnson, in St. Louis. Missouri on April 4, 1928. The nickname “Maya” was given to her by an older brother. When Maya was three, her parents split up and Maya and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother.

After four years, the children were returned to live with their mother. At age 8, Maya was raped by her mother’s boyfriend. After her confession about this to her brother, Mr. Freeman was jailed. Mr. Freeman was released after an overnight stay in prison, but was found kicked to death shortly after his release. Due to this traumatizing event, Maya became a mute as she feared people would die if she spoke.

Once again. Angelou and her brother were sent back to live with their grandmother. A teacher, Bertha Flowers, helped to encourage Angelou to speak again. When she was 13, she was again sent to live with her mother. During this time, she attended George Washington High School learning dance and drama.

Angelou wrote, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. This book recounts the first 18 years of her life.

In her senior year of high school, Angelou became pregnant with her son, Guy. She dropped out of school and began working as a waitress and cook to support herself and her new baby.

In her twenties, she changed her name to, Maya Angelou after a dancing performance at the Purple Onion Cabaret.

Adulthood and Career

In 1952, Angelou married Tosh Angelous, three years later, they divorced. During the time she was married to Angelous, she wrote, Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas. Following this time, she toured Europe performing in operas and dance shows. In 1957, Angelou became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and held the position of Northern Coordinator for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Angelou became friends with Malcolm X and in 1964, she joined him in helping build the Organization of African American Unity. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on Angelou’s birthday. This tragic event caused Angelou dealt with her grief by writing, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.

In 1973, Angelou married Paul de Feu. The years with him were some of her most productive years as a writer and poet. In 1977, she earned an Emmy nomination for her role in the film, Roots. During this time of Angelou’s success, she met, Opera Winfrey. Angelou has become Winfrey’s mentor. In 1981, Angelou divorced de Feu and returned to the southern United States.

In 1993, Angelou read a poem at President Clinton’s inauguration. This was the first poem to be read at an inauguration since President Kennedy. Her reading, “One the Pulse of the Morning” was broadcast live around the world.

Angelou now has over 30 published works, 13 of which are best-sellers. Angelou has won several awards including the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Angelou is now hailed as one of the great voices to black literature. Angelou is considered to be an author, poet, playwright, professional stage and screen producer, director, performer and singer. Angelou speaks numerous languages and has been to several countries where she has worked as a journalist for foreign publications. To this day, Angelou still is in high demand for speaking engagements.

Filed Under: Biography

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