Kick off Women's History Month by sharing some inspiration

We heard their biographies in history classes in high school, but maybe we have not realized how much appreciation they really deserve. So, to kick off Women's History Month, here are quick bios of three incredible women.

Maya Angelou, one of the most famous African American authors of the twentieth century. Over the span of her career, she expressed her talents through her acting, directing, poetry, screenwriting, singing, dancing and more. Her autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" exemplified the self-determined journey of a young woman who overcame rape and served as a civil rights activist.

Rosa Parks, dubbed the "Mother of the Civil Rights Movement." As segregation laws forced compliance around the country, Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus in December of 1955. Her defiance with this law marked the start of the Civil Rights Movement. Parks rallied a boycott, lasting 381 days and thus causing the overturn of segregation laws.

Ella Fitzgerald, "The First Lady of Jazz." Fitzgerald was one of the most famous singers of the twentieth century. She is known for her huge role in the emergence of jazz. Her unparalleled talent earned her immense popularity as she recorded around 2,000 songs in her lifetime.

For more biographies of influential African-American women, check out http://www.biography.com/blackhistory.