Alice Walker Biography
(The First African-American Woman to Win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)Birthday: February 9, 1944 (Aquarius)
Born In: Eatonton, Georgia, United States
Advanced SearchAlice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning African-American writer best known as the author of the critically acclaimed novel’ The Color Purple’ which tells the story of a black woman who struggles against not just the racist white culture but also the patriarchal black culture. An independent minded woman and a feminist, Walker is famous for her works which address the issues of gender discrimination, racism, and patriarchy which are rampant in the African-American society. She was born as the youngest daughter of sharecroppers and grew up in poverty. In mid-20th century America’s black children were expected to work in the fields instead of going to school. However, her mother was a strong-willed woman who insisted that her children receive a good education and sent Alice to school. She was a creative girl and started writing at a young age. After high school she went on a scholarship to Spelman College in Atlanta. During this time she became influenced by one of her professors, Howard Zinn, who was also an activist and grew interested in the U.S. civil rights movement. She became a published writer while still in college and over the years established herself as a major author of the Black Arts movement. She is also a prominent social activist in addition to being an acclaimed writer.
Quick FactsAlso Known As: Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Kate Walker
Age: 80 Years, 80 Year Old Females
Family:Spouse/Ex-: Melvyn Leventhal
father: Willie Lee Walker
mother: Minnie Lou Tallulah Grant
children: Rebecca Walker
Born Country: United States
Quotes By Alice Walker African American Women
Notable Alumni: Spelman College
U.S. State: Georgia
More Factseducation: Sarah Lawrence College, Spelman College
awards: 1983 - Pulitzer Prize for Fiction - The Color Purple
1983 - National Book Award for Fiction (Hardcover) - The Color Purple
1977 - Guggenheim Fellowship for Creative Arts
US & Canada
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American PeoplePoetsNovelistsShort Story WritersAmerican Women Childhood & Early LifeAlice Walker was born in Putnam County, Georgia, on February 9, 1944. Her parents, Willie Lee Walker and Minnie Lou Tallulah Grant, were sharecroppers. She was the youngest of eight siblings.Even though the family was poor, her mother worked hard to ensure that the children received a good upbringing. She worked as a maid to supplement the family income.Alice grew up in an era when the children of black sharecroppers were expected to work in the fields at a young age. But her mother was insistent that her children receive a decent education and enrolled Alice in school when she was four years old.She was a creative little girl and started writing when she was just eight years old.She was accidentally wounded in the right eye in 1952 and a layer of scar tissue formed over her wounded eye. Because of this she became very self-conscious and shy. The scar tissue was later removed when she was 14.She graduated from her high school as the valedictorian of her class, and won a scholarship to attend the Spelman College in Atlanta in 1961. She later transferred to Sarah Lawrence College, graduating in 1965.In Spelman College, one of her professors, Howard Zinn, was also an activist and he greatly influenced her thinking. Because of him, she became interested in the U.S. civil rights movement and soon became an activist in her own right.She wrote her first volume of poetry, ‘Once’ in 1968 while still in college. The poems are based on her experiences during the civil rights movement. The influence of the French philosopher Albert Camus is also evident in her early work.