Ronald Manning is a young African American poet hailing from the South Bronx, New York. Though he was raised in a single-parent home, his mother, Heather Manning, worked hard to provide for them both. Ronald was told by his high school guidance counselor that he should not apply to top-tier universities because he would not be accepted due to his ethnic background. Using his guidance counselor's ill words as motivation, Ronald decided that his destiny would not be measured by someone else's standards. Ronald worked diligently studying day and night. As a result, he was able to maintain a spot on the honor roll. Ronald received a partial college scholarship to St. John's University. His father, Ronald Davis, paid for the remaining college education on the premise that he kept a B average, to which Ronald capitulated to. Throughout college, Ronald became a resident assistant to assume student leadership among his contemporaries. He spearheaded numerous events in hopes of getting his counterparts to understand the importance of giving back to the community. Ronald eventually graduated from St. John's University with a degree in communications and a minor in business administration. Upon graduation, Ronald eventually found his way to New York City Housing Authority, in which he helped cultivate the community through community service. Notable writers that influenced him were Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Tupac Shakur, and Langston Hughes. Ronald is currently looking to take the poetry world by storm in efforts to be one of the greatest writers of all time.
