Alice Walker

Early Years of Alice Walker

› Born February 9, 1944› Birthplace: Eatonton, GA› Her parents:

Willie Lee Walker Minnie Lou Tallulah Grant

Walker› She is the youngest of 8

siblings› Accident left her blind in 1 eye

Got shot in the eye with a BB when playing Cowboys and Indians with her siblings.

Alice’s Parents

Vegetarian Remains very active in

feminist/woman’s causes, economic justice, and environmental issues

Several YouTube videos show Alice Walker supporting Obama› Open-mindedness› He is real› Compassionate› Hard worker

She has won numerous awards for her literature

Education Alice Walker attended Spelman College

during the early 1960’s with a full scholarship› In Atlanta, GA› She received 3 gifts from her mother

Typewriter Sewing Machine Suitcase

Later transferred to Sarah Lawrence College Throughout college she was very active in

civil rights movements› Located outside of NYC

Career Upon graduating Alice

Walker accepted a position with the NYC department of Welfare

A year later she moved to MS and worked for the Legal Defense Fund of the NAACP

Alice Walker also taught at Jackson State College in Mississippi

Personal Life Prior to moving to Mississippi; Alice Walker

married Mel Leventhal (a Jewish civil rights attorney)

When they moved to Mississippi they became “the first legally inter-racial couple in Mississippi.”› This brought on a lot of harassment and

threats of murder by the KKK They had 1 daughter together Rebecca in 1969 Mel and Alice divorced in 1976 Had a romantic relationship with Tracy Chapman

during the 90’s

Rebecca Grant (Walker)

Alice, Rebecca, and Mel Levanthal

Writing Style Most of her works are known for her portrayal of

the African American woman’s life› Depicts:

Sexism Poverty Racism

› But also doesn’t leave out strengths such as: Self-worth Spirituality Family Community

Her Writings Wrote several novels

› The Color Purple› Meridian› The Third Life of Grange Copeland

Published numerous volumes of poetry› Once› Revolutionary Petunias and other Poems› Collected Poems

Wrote short stories› In Love and Trouble› You Can’t Keep a Good Women Down

Quotes Quotes

› “I try to teach my heart not to want things it can't have”

› “Don't wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you've got to make yourself.”

› “No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.”

› “I have learned not to worry about love; but to honor its coming with all my heart.”

› “Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be.”

Awards/Accomplishments Pulitzer Prize in 1983 for The Color Purple O Henry Award for “Kindred Spirits” Lillian Smith Award from the National

Endowment for the Arts National Book Award (first black woman) Rosenthal Award from the National

Institute of Arts and Letters Nomination for the national book award Radcliffe Institute Fellowship, Merrill

Fellowship, & Guggenheim Fellowship

Everyday Use Mama has two daughters, Maggie and Dee. Mama and Maggie are waiting for Dee’s arrival.

› Maggie is very self-conscious and nervous because Dee is the “normal” daughter. › Dee was sent away to school and received and education, and Maggie can barely read. › Maggie has severe scars on her body from being burned in a fire when she was a young child. › She is jealous of Dee because she has an easier life than she does. › Mama looks forward to Maggie’s marriage to John Thomas because she will not have to take

care of Maggie anymore and will be able to have a relaxing life. › Dee arrives at the house with her boyfriend Hakim-a-barber. › Mama does not approve the way Dee is dressed, as well as the strange man she has brought

with her. › Dee tells her mother that she has changed her name to Wangero Leewanika Kemanjo, an

African name. Dee says she doesn’t want to be named after the people that oppressed her, but her mom tells her she was named after her grandmother.

› Dee begins to gather items from the house that are important to her. She first gathers the parts of the butter churn and wraps them up. Maggie tells them that it was their Aunt’s first husband that made the butter churn.

› Then, Dee goes into the bedroom and gathers two quilts from the trunk. Maggie gets upset that Dee wants those quilts, and her mother tells Dee to take different quilts with her instead.

› Dee wants these two particular quilts because they were handstiched by her grandmother and contain pieces of garments her family mambers had worn. Dee and Maggie argue about the quilts. Maggie gives in and hands Dee the quilts,

however Mama takes them away from Dee and places them on Maggies lap. She tells Dee to grab two different quilts. Dee and her boyfriend leave. She tells Mama that Mama doesn’t understand her heritage

at all. They drive away.

Debate Dee and Maggie get into an argument about two quilts that their

grandmother made from clothing that she wore. Maggie wants to keep the quilts so they can be used everyday, and Dee wants to pack the quilts away and preserve them.

Dee (Debrah)1. I want to preserve these

quilts

4. This quilt has meaning behind it and it will be ruined if you use it everyday. Our grandmother made these quilts

5. The meaning of the past will be taken away once the quilt is thrown away when it wears.

Maggie (Erin)2. I will use them for everyday use3. I can make another quilt when it is worn out.