Anaïs Nin, a French-Cuban writer, was born today in 1903. Her journals, many of which were published during her lifetime, detail her private thoughts and personal relationships, as well as her sexually abusive and incestuous relationship with her father. In addition to her journals, Nin wrote several novels, critical studies, essays, short stories, and volumes of erotica.

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, better known as Nina Simone, was born today in 1933. She would go on to become a world renowned pianist, writer, and vocalist whose music straddled jazz, blues, R&B, folk and gospel. She was also an outspoken advocate during the civil rights movement, writing songs about the scars and daily experience of racism.