Marian Wright Edelman's activist spirit was profoundly shaped by her childhood experiences. Growing up in a segregated South, she witnessed firsthand the inequities of race and class. Her parents instilled in her a strong sense of social justice and encouraged her to advocate for the rights of others. Events like attending a segregated school and the civil rights movement had an enduring impact on her. Driven by a passion for education and child welfare, she later founded the Children's Defense Fund, demonstrating her lifelong commitment to fight for those marginalized by society.