The ability to lead comes in all shapes, forms and all walks of life. There are many reasons why a leader emerges and many circumstances that drive them to act. Leadership is an action and a leader emerges because of their actions. The fact that the adult American Negro women emerges a formidable character is often met with amazement, distaste and even belligerence. It is seldom accepted as an inevitable outcome of the struggle won by survivors, and deserves respect if not enthusiastic acceptance. —Maya Angelou (1969)