Maya Angelou

From DISCOVERTHENETWORKS.org 

African-American poet, novelist and playwright; Civil rights activist who worked with both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X; Supporter of many left-wing icons and causes, including Fidel Castro, Mumia Abu-Jamal, affirmative action, and the Kyoto Protocol; Views America as a nation rife with racism. 

Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Ann Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri, on April 4, 1928. At the age of eight, she was sexually abused by her mother's boyfriend. A few years later, Angelou won a scholarship to study dance and drama at San Francisco’s Labor School, but she dropped out at age 14 to take a job as a cable-car conductor. She later returned to finish high school, and gave birth to her son just a few weeks after graduation. In her late teens, Angelou spent time working as both a prostitute and madam.

In subsequent years, Angelou established a reputation as a skilled actress and dancer. In the mid to late 1950s, the Harlem Writers’ Guild helped her develop her literary talents. Angelou also participated extensively in the civil-rights movement, helping Malcolm X build his Organization of African American Unity and serving as northern coordinator for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  More here.....