Virginia Hamilton was an author born in Yellow Springs in 1934 who lived and wrote there much of her life. She referred to her work as “Liberation Literature,” focusing on the struggles and journeys of African Americans. Hamilton published more than forty books in a variety of genres, including realistic novels, science fiction, picture books, folktales, and mysteries. Some of her most beloved titles include The House of Dies Dreer, M.C. Higgins the Great, Her Stories, and If People Could Fly. Her books profoundly influenced the study of race throughout American history, the achievements of African Americans, and the ramifications of racism. She received numerous awards for her writing before passing away in 2002, and her work is enshrined at the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.