AnJel Claude was raised in a small southern town, with little hope of fulfilling her ambitious dreams and desires. Nevertheless, she was determined to become successful in life. Her story, like so many women of color in the deep south, is filled with triumphs and disappointments. Through it all, however, AnJel endured each setback and was able to overcome one obstacle after the other, including poverty, domestic abuse and other hardships. She was ultimately able to depend on her faith, perseverance and personal dignity to surmount all odds.