James Earl Jones faced several challenges early in life. His father left before he was born, and his mother later left him in Michigan to be raised by her grandparents. This arrangement caused him turmoil because his grandmother was bigoted. As a child, Jones developed a severe stutter and rarely spoke. However, in high school, a teacher encouraged him to recite poetry, which helped him overcome this impediment. Jones then attended the University of Michigan, majoring in drama.