My theme for the Blogging from A to Z challenge is Creativity. Today I pay tribute to author Alice Walker.
Walker is best known for her novel The Color Purple. For that, she became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction. The book also won the National Book Award.
I read The Color Purple when it was first published in 1983, so of course it’s not fresh in my mind. But I remember it was a difficult read for me because of the main character Celie’s extremely tough life. But through Celie, who suffers both physical and mental abuse, Walker shows us the hopes and determination of the human spirit when Celie fights to be, and ultimately is, recognized as a human being.
Walker’s parents were sharecroppers, and she grew up in extreme poverty and racism. Her determination to give her parents and the people she knew a voice inspired her to become a writer.
“If you deny people their own voice,” she said, “you’ll have no idea of who they were.”
In this video, Walker talks of her childhood, of which she has fond memories despite the poverty, and her experiences with racism.
Of The Color Purple, she says, “What I would like people to understand when they read The Color Purple is that there are actually all these terrible things that can happen to us, and yet life is so incredibly magical and abundant and present, that we can still be very happy.”
Alice Walker created a novel that incorporated truths about her own life and past, about the people she loved, and in doing so, she joined other artists who, throughout history, used their creativity to break barriers, bring awareness to important societal issues, and remind us about the beauty of life and the indomitable human spirit.
Linda Covella, Author 
Awesome post!
Please visit my blog, http://www.thatgirlybookworm.blogspot.ca
I’m also participating in the A-Z Challenge and my theme features books and their titles, which will begin with the letter of the day.
Thanks, Michelle. I did visit your blog and love it that you did book reviews for the challenge. I read a few on your list that really enjoyed, so I want to check out the others. Love your “waving goodbye.” 🙂
I never read it and I really should – thanks for sharing
Susan, I think it’s really worth reading. Thanks for stopping by!
I really should read this – thanks for sharing
Hi Linda, giving you a shout out from my letter W today.
Thank you, Rosie! And thanks for your post on Terry Tyler. She’s new to me, and I will check out her books.
Hi Linda. I’ve read the book and it is a very eye-opening and powerful novel, indeed.
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com
Hi Debi. Yes it is. Thanks for stopping by!
Wonderful book. This makes me want to go back and read it. Powerful in so many ways. Thanks for brining it back to life, Linda.
Thanks, Silvia! I need to reread it, too.
Linda, Alice Walker is one of my favorites and her work “the Color Purple” had a huge impact on my first novel. “A Temple of my Familiar” is another favorite. She is a powerful writer with very moving stories to tell. I am visiting from the A to Z challenge and am so glad I did!
Stephanie
Thank you, Stephanie. So glad you stopped by! What is your blog/website so I can return the visit? 🙂
Hi Linda! I blog at http://stephanierosebirdstudio.blogspot.com
Thanks, Stephanie! I enjoyed your W=Witch post!
Added and thanks for the recommendations. It’s great reading voices and narratives I’m unfamiliar with.
Nicky, she has other books, too, but I haven’t read those yet!
Coming from a land with a painful and turbulent past… this resonates with me…
I haven’t read this book yet. I must get to it.
Hi Michelle. I’m sorry to hear you had a difficult past. I imagine this book helped others like you–it’s ultimately an uplifting story. Take care.
I read Color Purple as a teen and it moved me. I couldn’t sleep well for days.
Damyanti, it’s an intense book. She’s an amazing writer. I need to read more of her books.
The most noble role of the writer: highlighting an injustice and giving a voice to the voiceless. Wonderful post. I enjoyed the video as well. 🙂
Thanks, Melissa. She’s really an amazing writer and person.