Alice Walker has shown great commitment to her work. Throughout her childhood, she has faced many hardships that have made her an even stronger writer. She is the epitome of a great writer, either female or male. There was a reason as to why she received both the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. Walker knows how to move her readers and make them feel the emotion of the characters in her books or stories. For example, in The Color Purple Walker writes through the perspective of the main character in letters to God.
The moments in Alice’s life that influenced her writing are very critical to her story. She uses a lot of childhood memories to express through her writing. In her biography, Alice describes her experience with being shot accidently by her brother an experience that made more prepared to become a writer. She said she felt, “raped” because of the lie she had to hold in so her brother wouldn’t get in trouble. Walker said that experience made her feel as if she had to forever tell the truth in everything she did because she remembered that painful experience of lying during her childhood (1).
Alice’s experiences in college also inspired her writing. She found her love of travel through Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. She was even invited to Washington D.C to hear his “I Have A Dream” speech. Going to a college that was so passionate about civil rights helped Alice understand herself and made her bring up issues about race, class and gender in her writing. Another bad experience that influenced Alice’s writing was her getting pregnant while still in college. She was so afraid of what her parents would think and even considered committing suicide (2). This made her even more of an inspiration because she could relate to other women who experienced this feeling.
Alice deserves a fan page because she is so inspirational. She inspires young girls all over the world because of the messages she brings out in her novels and stories. She is especially an inspiration to young black girls like me. She gives us inspiration to go for our dreams and write about whatever we feel. She shows us that no matter what gender, race or sexual orientation we are, we can follow our dreams and be successful. Alice never held back in her writing, she always told the truth. In The Color Purple she has a rape scene on the very first page of the book. It may shock people, but that is what I really like about her. She’s not afraid to bring up issues that may shock people.
She also said that she is a spiritual person, not so much religious. She said, she’s been into nature since the age of 11. I like how she doesn’t try to force religious beliefs on her readers. She presents the information and allows readers to form their own opinions about what she wrote.
-Arielle Cole
1. Walker, Alice. "The Official Alice Walker Biography." Alice Walker - The Official Website for Alice Walker. 2008. Web. 9 Apr. 2010..
2. "Alice Walker." Know Southern History :: Main. Web. 20 Apr. 2010..
-Arielle Cole
1. Walker, Alice. "The Official Alice Walker Biography." Alice Walker - The Official Website for Alice Walker. 2008. Web. 9 Apr. 2010.
2. "Alice Walker." Know Southern History :: Main. Web. 20 Apr. 2010.
This is a wonderful blog. Every contributor really expressed their interest in Alice Walker. I gain a great perspective on Walker's writing and how she came to express her feelings and life experiences through her writing. The words you used to describe Walker's messages were powerful, thus helping convey the power of the messages themselves. The biography gives a great depiction of Walker's struggles throughout her life, especially the BB gun incident and her contribution to the Civil Rights Movement. The individual reviews were wonderfully written as well. The summary of each piece was well detailed. Also, the connections of themes between the books and the class were well thought out. I appreciate the time that was put into this blog. I also liked how there are multiple youtube videos that really capture Walker's personality and views. This gives readers a better insight into Walker's writing.
ReplyDeleteI do think her background was a little repetitive. Each entry stated the same biography about Walker. But this did not take away from the fact that the blog was well written. I appreciate the enthusiasm that I felt from each entry about the artist and the creativity in making this blog. Great job in interesting me more in Alice Walker and her writings.
I really enjoyed reading your blog! I am also doing my final project on Alice Walker and it was nice to see the similarities that we found in her work, but to also see the differences! You helped me gain a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that you open up your blog with is one that I also am using in my project. This is by far my favorite quote from Alice Walker because she takes responsibility as a person. By her saying that only good people can create good literature she is creating a standard for all authors and helping people who are in the public eye realize that everything they do, affects their art.
I also really liked how you talked about how she helps women come into their roles in society. I found that to be one of Alice Walker's most important missions of her work. By telling the truth, she makes it so other women can tell the truth and find where they belong. She helps people not be afraid to be true to themselves.
One part of your blog that I had never really considered was the underlying sexual orientation theme in "The Color Purple". When I was reading the novel, I did not pick up on that but going back now I totally see the theme. Thank you for helping me gets more from the reading!
I definitely agree with your overall point that Alice Walker is an inspiration. I think once people read your blog, they will too see what she has done for society. Her work helps people feel comfortable being themselves.
Kortnie Karn
Thanks for your comment Logan and Kortnie! I think its really cool that you found other perspectives from my group's blog. I think its great when we can learn from each other and thats the whole purpose of this final project.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kortnie, Alice Walker is such an inspiration! There have been women in the media and other authors that I have looked up to and after learning about her, she has definitely been the most inspirational. I'm glad you feel the same way!
P.S
Hey Logan! You have a pretty cool last name! :)
--Arielle Cole
After today presentation on Alice Walker it was interesting to learn about her from a different groups perspective. Your group highlighted several of her works that were not discussed in today’s lecture. I particularly liked how you focused on many of her short stories and not just “The Color Purple”, even thought that was her most popular work.
ReplyDeleteThe group made a strong connection between Walker’s experiences and how they have effected the lives of many girls and women. Her stories seem incredibly passionate and genuine because they are the raw truth. They clearly give other women who share the same experiences someone to relate too. Her fight against racism was a push to help black women feel empowered.
Overall the Alice Walker Blog was very impressive and well done! She is a very inspiring individual and I plan on reading some of her works over the summer.
Thanks for the wonderful comment on our blog Nicole! We feel Alice Walker deserves credit for more than one of her stories, because hundreds of people have been affected by many of her works. Thank you for acknowledging that as well.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy reading some of her works. They really are influential, not only to African-American women, but men and women of all race, age, and heritage.
-Nicole Browning
I really enjoyed all of the videos you have of Alice Walker, it really gave me a grasp of who she was as an artist. I would also agree that some of the background is a little repetative as well, but you gave a lot on information. I also liked how you dedicated a section to why you feel she is a great artist because that is an important part of the project.
ReplyDeleteWhat hasn't she done? Being a poet, short story writer, novelist, essayist, anthologist, teacher, editor, publisher, womanist and activist. This blog explicitly honors all of the great works that Alice Walker has accomplished. The videos and pictures are very appealing and enjoyable. This blog relates class themes like women empowerment to Alice Walkers novels such as The color Purple. I have not read this book but the films and graphics are pursuading me to.
ReplyDeleteI as well really enjoyed being able to see another perspective of Alice Walker. I got a good introduction to her work during the class presentation but this blog has gone one step further. I really liked how you related her work to helping women and girls in many different ways. She seems like an intelligent powerful woman and you portrayed her beautifully. I love all the pictures you chose of her as well. They each capture something in her eyes, something that explains her character without words. I was also pleased to see that you used other works of hers other than "The Color Purple" that the group presenting focused on. Overall an interesting, fun blog! good job!
ReplyDeleteJuliana