Let's make this birthday one to remember.

81 years old (Born on September 13, 1943)

Happy Birthday, Mildred D. Taylor! May your day be filled with more joy than Cassie Logan's spirited adventures and fewer mishaps than T.J.'s questionable decisions. Your powerful storytelling in "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" continues to resonate deeply—reminding us all that courage can speak louder than thunder.

Your timeless narratives have illuminated African-American experiences in the South with humor, heartache, and hope. Today we celebrate not just another year but decades of inspiring readers young and old alike through unforgettable characters who teach us strength comes from family bonds—and occasionally outsmarting a bully or two along the way!