Margaret Bonds was an influential African American composer and pianist born on March 3, 1913, in Chicago, Illinois. She was known for her contributions to classical music and her efforts to promote African American culture through her compositions. Bonds studied at Northwestern University and later became the first African American woman to conduct a major symphony orchestra. Throughout her career, Bonds collaborated with notable figures such as Langston Hughes, whose poetry inspired some of her most famous works. She composed a variety of pieces, including art songs and orchestral works, and was dedicated to showcasing the richness of African American musical heritage.