Ava DuVernay and Autumn Riley

Ava DuVernay, born August 24, 1972 in Long Beach California. DuVernay was encouraged to pursue her love of the arts by her aunt Denise at the age of a small child. Aunt Denise worked during the night shift as nurse so she could follow her passion for art literature and theater during the day. DuVernay became enamored with the 1961 movie West Side Story after her aunt showed the film to DuVernay. DuVernay discovered by watching her mother's examples of the power of art as an effective vehicle for social activism. In the same way, her mother was conscious of her social status and influenced that she could express her thoughts through art. DuVernay was a resident of Compton throughout her youth, however she was able to spend summers with the extended family of her father living in Lowndes County Alabama. Her father was a witness to the historical march of the Civil Rights Movement on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was in Selma Alabama, a neighboring city. DuVernay was inspired by her time in Selma to later direct the documentary of King's father, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. DuVernay graduated with a high school diploma at Saint Joseph High School, Lakewood California in 1990. After graduation she was enrolled at an institution called the University of California Los Angeles which she graduated with certificates in English and African American studies. DuVernay developed an interest in broadcast journalism as a student. She worked as a CBS News intern during the O.J. Simpson's trial. DuVernay recalls being tasked to observe the house of one member of the jury as well as look through their trash. Following her disappointment with journalism due to the work she was given and deciding to go after a career in publicity. DuVernay began her career as a junior assistant to publicity for a film studio that was small shortly after she graduated from the college. She was promoted to the position and set up her own public relations company called The DuVernay Agency in 1999. Apart from PR, the agency created several lifestyle networks such as Urban Beauty Collective, Urban Thought Collective Urban Eye, HelloBeautiful. Autumn Riley.............................Autumn Riley was born in Los Angeles United States. Autumn Riley's birth sign is . She is a popular actress that has been in American Experience (1987), A More Perfect Union (2009), and other films. Autumn appeared as Rose In A More Perfect Union, and Anna Payne in American Experience.