85 years old (Born on March 25, 1939)
An African-American author, filmmaker, and college professor, she is best known for her 1999 novel, Those Bones Are Not My Child, as well as for the popular short story, "Blues Ain't No Mocking Bird" (1976). Her other literary works include the short story collection, The Sea Birds Are Still Alive (1977) and the 1980 novel, The Salt Eaters.