Welcome to Bedtime History. Hello, this is Brack.

Growing up, one of my favorite childhood memories was using my imagination to build new things.

I'd take apart old, unused electronics or appliances in our home, and then try and rebuild them into something new and interesting.

They usually didn't work. They were more like works of art than functioning inventions, but I had a blast doing it.

What's great about a product like KiwiCo is the things you build as part of the engineering kits actually work.

My kids and I have built a few different projects together, including a ukulele, a pinball machine, headphones, and a speaker.

These projects include detailed instructions and also explain the science behind how the devices work.

As a parent, it can be hard to find creative ways to keep your children busy, challenged, and off screens.

KiwiCo does the legwork for you, so you can spend quality time tackling projects together.

KiwiCo also has boxes for geography and culture, the Atlas crate, and another one focused on cooking.

Other subjects are science, art, engineering, crafting, and design. KiwiCo also has crates designed for kids and adults of all ages.

Redefine Learning with Play. Explore hands-on projects that build creative confidence and problem-solving skills with KiwiCo.

Give 50% off your first month plus free shipping on any crate line at KiwiCo.com forward slash bedtime history.

That's 50% off your first month at kiwico.com slash bedtime history.

A quick shout-out to our newest donor, Ryan from Naples, Florida.

If you'd like to donate to bedtime history, go to our website, bedtimehistorystories.com, to donate via Patreon.

Donors also get access to our entire 140 episode catalog of shout-out free, pitch-free episodes.

No extra stuff, just the stories you enjoy.

Now onto our episode.

Maya Angelou was born on April 4, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. Her full name was Marguerite, but her older brother had trouble saying her name so he started calling her Maya for short.

Maya's parents had trouble getting along, and when she was three they divorced. Her parents thought it would be better for her grandmother to raise them instead, so they sent Maya and her brother on a train to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas.

They called their grandma Henderson Mama. Most of the people in Stamps were black, and it was a segregated town.

...