Alice Walker (born February 9, 1944) is an American novelist, poet, and activist best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple (1982). Her works focus on race, gender, oppression, and the resilience of Black women.

Early Life & Education

• Born in Eatonton, Georgia, Walker grew up in the racially segregated South.
• She was blinded in one eye at age 8 due to an accident, which influenced her introspective nature and love for writing.
• Attended Spelman College and later transferred to Sarah Lawrence College, graduating in 1965.

Major Works

1. The Color Purple (1982)

• A novel about the struggles of African American women in the early 20th century.
• Won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award.
• Adapted into a film (1985) directed by Steven Spielberg and a Broadway musical.

2. Meridian (1976)

• A novel about a young Black woman’s involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

3. Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992)

• Explores the practice of female genital mutilation through the character Tashi, introduced in The Color Purple.

4. Poetry & Essays

• Revolutionary Petunias and Other Poems (1973)
• In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose (1983) (introduces womanism, a term she coined to describe Black feminism)

Activism & Legacy

• Active in the Civil Rights Movement, working with organizations like the NAACP.
• Advocates for women’s rights, racial justice, and environmental issues.
• Helped revive interest in the work of Zora Neale Hurston, ensuring her literary legacy.

Impact & Recognition

• First Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
• Continues to influence literature and activism worldwide.