Alice Walker

Alice Walker is an exceptional woman, not only as a writer but also a strong leader in many women’s rights campaigns. Alice’s unique and distinguished writing style and her assertiveness on the issues she focuses on in her stories have brought her to the status of a legend in American literature. Alice Walker has a diverse and interesting history and has taken part of many activist efforts worldwide. She has made a difference in the lives of many women by dedicating her life not only to African American literature, but also the well being of women as a whole.   She is a writer, teacher, feminist, activist, editor, poet, and biographer.   She has used the downfalls in her life to find inspiration to move forward and offer guidance through her writing to women all around the world.   She is mostly known for her novel, The Color Purple which was published in 1982.   The Color Purple was later made into a film.
Alice Malsenior Walker was born on February 9, 1944 in Eatonton, Georgia.   She was the youngest of eight children born to Minnie Tallulah Grant and Willie Lee Walker, whom were sharecroppers.   At the age of eight her brother hit her right eye with a shot from a BB gun, this left Alice scarred and blind.   For the following six years she was teased and taunted at school by her peers until a doctor was able to remove the scar tissue when she was fourteen years old.   Although Alice became very shy and distant from her family and peers during the six years after the accident she went on to be high school prom queen and class valedictorian.   She did continue feeling as an outsider though, and she followed her passion for writing poetry and reading.   She recalls her feeling which she experienced due to her accident in her book Warrior Marks.   Alice recalls the accident in order to relate to women in Africa who are undergoing genital mutilation.    
In 1961 Alice left for Spelman College in Atlanta, a prominent college for black women.   She was deeply influenced by her...