Alice Walker

Children's Literature

When Alice Walker was eight years old her self-image was altered by a shot from a BB gun. It damaged her eye and left a large white scar on her eye. She experienced teasing, which led her to withdraw and feel lonely. She buried herself in books and began to feel comfort in literature. When she was fourteen, her brother found a doctor who could change the white scar so that it was not so noticeable. She regained her self-confidence, went on to become an outstanding student and graduated at the top of her class. Spelman College in Atlanta offered her a scholarship which she accepted. Eventually, she transferred to Sarah Lawrence College in New York where she was encouraged to pursue writing as a career by two of her professors. Later she received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel "The Color Purple." Although she was criticized for her negative portrayal of African American men, she vowed that she would speak her mind. The author portrays Ms. Walker as a civil rights activist and feminist as well as a celebrated author. She participated in numerous civil rights activities including the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 23, 1968, voter registration and work in Mississippi. One of her outstanding contributions was to develop a women's literature course on African American women writers at Wellesley College in Massachusetts where she was teaching. During the preparation of this course she discovered the works of Zora Neale Hurston , a forgotten writer from the Harlem Renaissance. At one point she edited some of her works and when she learned that she was buried in an unmarked grave, she searched for, found her grave and had a headstone placed there. Alice Walker will continue tocontribute to the world of literature and women's rights. Watch for future activities. The book is part of the "Journey to Freedom, The African American Library Series." Each book in the series has a timeline of events and a glossary. 2004, The Child's World, Ages 8 to 12.
— Leila Toledo