Alice WalkerAlice Walker

A Writing ActivistA Writing Activist

The Humble BeginningsThe Humble Beginnings

Feb. 9Feb. 9thth, 1944—Alice Walker is born to , 1944—Alice Walker is born to sharecropper parents (one of 9 children) in sharecropper parents (one of 9 children) in Eatonton, Georgia.Eatonton, Georgia.

1952—Alice Walker is blinded by a BB 1952—Alice Walker is blinded by a BB shot by one of her brothers. This incident shot by one of her brothers. This incident while physically traumatizing—also while physically traumatizing—also emotionally traumatizes her for life and emotionally traumatizes her for life and she writes about it frequently.she writes about it frequently.

Living With Grandma &GrandpaLiving With Grandma &Grandpa

Because of the eye, she went to live with Because of the eye, she went to live with her grandparents and also because of a her grandparents and also because of a teacher who told her parents about the teacher who told her parents about the schools in their district.schools in their district.

Although she always felt isolated and even Although she always felt isolated and even punished for it.punished for it.

Begins writing stories and poems as a way Begins writing stories and poems as a way of dealing with her eye—the heroine of dealing with her eye—the heroine always looked like Alice Walker.always looked like Alice Walker.

More ExperiencesMore Experiences

1958 she visits her brother and his wife in 1958 she visits her brother and his wife in Boston, MA. She has a cataract removed Boston, MA. She has a cataract removed along with most of the scar tissue and she along with most of the scar tissue and she is given a fake eye which makes her look is given a fake eye which makes her look more normal.more normal.

1960 she graduates valedictorian from her 1960 she graduates valedictorian from her high school, most popular girl in class and high school, most popular girl in class and even prom queen.even prom queen.

Campus Activism 101Campus Activism 101

1961 Walker attends Spelman College, the famous 1961 Walker attends Spelman College, the famous African-American college for women. However, she African-American college for women. However, she ultimately rejects Spelman because it’s too nice and ultimately rejects Spelman because it’s too nice and proper without the political issues and consciousness proper without the political issues and consciousness she craves in a changing world.she craves in a changing world.

Her mom gave her a sewing machine (so she could be Her mom gave her a sewing machine (so she could be independent), a suitcase (so she could travel the world, independent), a suitcase (so she could travel the world, and a type writer. Her community raised the money for and a type writer. Her community raised the money for her to take the bus to school.her to take the bus to school.

She does try to participate in Civil Rights activities at She does try to participate in Civil Rights activities at Spelman, but there isn’t much push for “feminist” civil Spelman, but there isn’t much push for “feminist” civil rights there.rights there.

Campus Activism 101Campus Activism 101

She went to the World Peace conference in She went to the World Peace conference in Helsinki, Finland while at Spelman.Helsinki, Finland while at Spelman.

She also met Coretta Scott King & participated She also met Coretta Scott King & participated in the march on Washington where she heard in the march on Washington where she heard the famous “I Have A Dream,” speech.the famous “I Have A Dream,” speech.

However, she noticed while these did great However, she noticed while these did great things for civil rights in small ways, there wasn’t things for civil rights in small ways, there wasn’t anything that was directly making the lives better anything that was directly making the lives better for women or the people back home.for women or the people back home.

Advanced College ActivismAdvanced College Activism

Spelman didn’t like Walker’s activism. It Spelman didn’t like Walker’s activism. It wasn’t what women should be doing. Their wasn’t what women should be doing. Their goal was to produce educated ladies for goal was to produce educated ladies for future black leaders, not to produce future black leaders, not to produce activists, so Walker left and went to Sarah activists, so Walker left and went to Sarah Lawrence college in New York City.Lawrence college in New York City.

19641964

Walker went to Africa as an exchange Walker went to Africa as an exchange student in Uganda. She wrote a lot there, student in Uganda. She wrote a lot there, mainly poetry about the people and their mainly poetry about the people and their lives.lives.

This was before the “Black Arts This was before the “Black Arts Movement” in America, but it certainly Movement” in America, but it certainly inspired her own writing.inspired her own writing.

AbortionAbortion

Alice Walker upon returning from Africa Alice Walker upon returning from Africa discovered she was pregnant and this was discovered she was pregnant and this was deeply distressing for her because not deeply distressing for her because not only was abortion a sin in her tight knit only was abortion a sin in her tight knit religious family, but there was little money religious family, but there was little money to support herself as a scholarship student to support herself as a scholarship student (no such thing as child support then (no such thing as child support then either).either).

AbortionAbortion

She finally procured an abortion after She finally procured an abortion after considering suicide first as an option but considering suicide first as an option but slipped into a depression afterwards and slipped into a depression afterwards and graduated from Sarah Lawrence in 1964.graduated from Sarah Lawrence in 1964.

This is also an issue she writes about in This is also an issue she writes about in her work. It is something when she does, her work. It is something when she does, the characters are troubled about and the characters are troubled about and seek help within a society of women.seek help within a society of women.

Post GraduationPost Graduation After graduation, Alice spent the summer in Liberty County, Georgia After graduation, Alice spent the summer in Liberty County, Georgia

where she helped to initiate the welfare rights movement. She went where she helped to initiate the welfare rights movement. She went door to door to registering voters in the African-American community. door to door to registering voters in the African-American community. Her work with the most needy citizens in the state helped her to see Her work with the most needy citizens in the state helped her to see the impact of poverty on the relationships between Black men and the impact of poverty on the relationships between Black men and women. Whenever she found some free time, Alice sat down and women. Whenever she found some free time, Alice sat down and continued to write.continued to write.

She moved to New York City where she worked for the welfare She moved to New York City where she worked for the welfare department. She was awarded her first writing grant in 1966. She had department. She was awarded her first writing grant in 1966. She had wanted to go to Africa to write, but decided against it and went down wanted to go to Africa to write, but decided against it and went down to Mississippi. to Mississippi.

There she met a civil rights attorney, Melvyn Leventhal who was There she met a civil rights attorney, Melvyn Leventhal who was supportive of her writing and her love for naturesupportive of her writing and her love for nature

Married LifeMarried Life

She married She married Melvyn LeventhalMelvyn Leventhal in 1967 and had in 1967 and had one daughter, Rebecca Walker (a well known one daughter, Rebecca Walker (a well known author and feminist in her own right), and author and feminist in her own right), and became the first interracial legally married became the first interracial legally married couple in Mississippi.couple in Mississippi.

While her husband fought school desegration in While her husband fought school desegration in the courts, Alice worked as a history consultant the courts, Alice worked as a history consultant for the Friends of the Children Mississippi Head for the Friends of the Children Mississippi Head Start Program history.Start Program history.

Writing As A Young WifeWriting As A Young Wife

In 1968, her first book of poetry, In 1968, her first book of poetry, Once,Once, that she had begun in college was finally that she had begun in college was finally published. Alice also made her official published. Alice also made her official debut into the literary world when she debut into the literary world when she published her first short story, published her first short story, "To Hell "To Hell with Dying."with Dying." The story, which was written The story, which was written during college was a based as a during college was a based as a contradictory reaction to all of the negative contradictory reaction to all of the negative feelings she had as a result of undergoing feelings she had as a result of undergoing an abortion an abortion

19721972

Walker takes Rebecca and they go to Walker takes Rebecca and they go to Cambridge, MA.Cambridge, MA.

Walker teaches a course at Wellesley College in Walker teaches a course at Wellesley College in African-American Women’s Literature.African-American Women’s Literature.

First of it’s kind in the country.First of it’s kind in the country. Second book of poems, Second book of poems, Revolutionary Revolutionary

Petunias and Other PoemsPetunias and Other Poems.. This is nominated This is nominated for a National Book Award. It eventually wins the for a National Book Award. It eventually wins the Lillian Smith Award from the Southern Regional Lillian Smith Award from the Southern Regional Council. Council.

More Publications.More Publications.

In 1974, Alice's book, In 1974, Alice's book, Langston Hughes: Langston Hughes: American PoetAmerican Poet was published, which was was published, which was a reader whose intention was to teach a reader whose intention was to teach children about the legendary Harlem children about the legendary Harlem Renaissance Poet. She was also hired as Renaissance Poet. She was also hired as a contributing editor for a contributing editor for Ms. MagazineMs. Magazine..

19761976

Alice moved to New York City with her Alice moved to New York City with her husband and her daughter, Rebecca. husband and her daughter, Rebecca. While living there, Alice worked only part-While living there, Alice worked only part-time at the magazine and dedicated the time at the magazine and dedicated the remainder of her time to her writing. remainder of her time to her writing.

Published, Published, MeridanMeridan, a novel that was , a novel that was highly critically acclaimed about women in highly critically acclaimed about women in the civil rights movement.the civil rights movement.

19771977

Her husband asks for a divorce, her father Her husband asks for a divorce, her father died and it was a very painful time for her.died and it was a very painful time for her.

She began work on a third work of poetry, She began work on a third work of poetry, Good Night Willie Lee, I'll See You in the Good Night Willie Lee, I'll See You in the MorningMorning.. After her poems were sent to her After her poems were sent to her publisher, Alice began working onpublisher, Alice began working on

what would be her third novel and most what would be her third novel and most celebrated novel. celebrated novel.

SisterhoodSisterhood

Alice decides to start work on a new novel. Alice Alice decides to start work on a new novel. Alice came up with the idea of writing a story about came up with the idea of writing a story about two women who felt married to the same man. two women who felt married to the same man. She also wanted to make her novel a historical She also wanted to make her novel a historical one. But she had problems figuring out a plot. one. But she had problems figuring out a plot. The plot line for her novel did not become clear The plot line for her novel did not become clear for her until Alice took a walk with her sister, for her until Alice took a walk with her sister, Ruth, into the woods. While there, they Ruth, into the woods. While there, they discussed about a love triangle who they both discussed about a love triangle who they both knew about. Suddenly the missing piece of her knew about. Suddenly the missing piece of her novel came together. novel came together.

New BeginningsNew Beginnings

When the characters of her novel were When the characters of her novel were beginning to form, Alice made plans to leave the beginning to form, Alice made plans to leave the house in New York she had bought less than house in New York she had bought less than three months earlier. Since it was her daughter, three months earlier. Since it was her daughter, Rebecca's year to live with her father, Alice Rebecca's year to live with her father, Alice packed up her bags and flew alone to San packed up her bags and flew alone to San Francisco, CA. When she arrived in San Francisco, CA. When she arrived in San Francisco, she renewed her long-time friendship Francisco, she renewed her long-time friendship with Robert Allen, a man whom she met during with Robert Allen, a man whom she met during her time at Spelman College and he was a her time at Spelman College and he was a student across the street at Morehouse College student across the street at Morehouse College

Writing TCPWriting TCP

San Francisco was not a beneficial one for San Francisco was not a beneficial one for the growth of her characters. So Alice and the growth of her characters. So Alice and her lover packed up their bags in search of her lover packed up their bags in search of a better environment. They moved to the a better environment. They moved to the city of Mendocino, a place in Northern city of Mendocino, a place in Northern California that reminded her characters of California that reminded her characters of Georgia, where most of the setting of the Georgia, where most of the setting of the novel would be taking placenovel would be taking place..

TragedyTragedy

The book was written in what Alice termed The book was written in what Alice termed as "Black Folks English." It was the kind of as "Black Folks English." It was the kind of speech that wouldn't intimidate men and speech that wouldn't intimidate men and women, like her mother, whom she knew women, like her mother, whom she knew all her life. But her mother only read a few all her life. But her mother only read a few pages and never gets a chance to finish it. pages and never gets a chance to finish it. Her mother suffered a major stroke and as Her mother suffered a major stroke and as a result is never able to complete the a result is never able to complete the novel her daughter had written. novel her daughter had written.

Internal Cultural CriticismInternal Cultural Criticism

Although she received a lot of praise for her Although she received a lot of praise for her novel, she received criticism from some in the novel, she received criticism from some in the African-American community who thought her African-American community who thought her novel portrayed black men in negative novel portrayed black men in negative stereotypical fashion as abusers and rapists. stereotypical fashion as abusers and rapists. Just like Zora Neale Hurston's critics during the Just like Zora Neale Hurston's critics during the Harlem Renaissance, some had not even read Harlem Renaissance, some had not even read her book before offering attacks. Although she her book before offering attacks. Although she saw the critical attacks as being small-minded saw the critical attacks as being small-minded and ignorant, they still hurt none the less. and ignorant, they still hurt none the less.

AwardsAwards

Nationally, Alice was offered a teaching Nationally, Alice was offered a teaching position at University of California at position at University of California at Berkley in the spring of 1982 which she Berkley in the spring of 1982 which she accepted. In the fall she works at Brandeis accepted. In the fall she works at Brandeis University. Alice earned an American Book University. Alice earned an American Book Award for The Color PurpleAward for The Color Purple.. She was also She was also nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for fiction nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for fiction which she went on to win in 1983. She which she went on to win in 1983. She became the first African-American novelist became the first African-American novelist to win the Pulitzer Prize. to win the Pulitzer Prize.

Other WorksOther Works

During this same year, Alice releases a During this same year, Alice releases a series of essays, In series of essays, In Search of Our Search of Our Mother'sMother's Garden'sGarden's: Womanist Prose. : Womanist Prose.

1984: 1984: Horses Make a Landscape More Horses Make a Landscape More Beautiful (poetry)Beautiful (poetry)

(Walker and Allen also started Wild Tree (Walker and Allen also started Wild Tree Press for work they considered worthy of Press for work they considered worthy of notice that might not get notice).notice that might not get notice).

Other WorksOther Works

In 1989, her fourth fiction novel In 1989, her fourth fiction novel The Temple of The Temple of My Familiar My Familiar was published.was published.

Alice released her second children's book, Alice released her second children's book, Finding the Green Stone was published in 1991.Finding the Green Stone was published in 1991.

1992 Walker published 1992 Walker published Possessing the Secret Possessing the Secret of Joyof Joy. It discussed the horrors of female genital . It discussed the horrors of female genital mulitation, an operation that is practiced mainly mulitation, an operation that is practiced mainly on the continents of Middle East, Asia, and on the continents of Middle East, Asia, and AfricaAfrica . .