Alice Malsenior Walker

In Eatonton, Georgia, on February 9, 1944, a revolutionary woman who would later leave a legacy on American literature, Alice Walker is born (Walters 514). Alice Walker considered her family ties to be one of the greatest relationships bestowed upon her (Adams). Her relationship with her mother bolstered her ability to become a stellar student. As Walker was going through childhood, her eye was damaged in a BB gun accident caused by her older brother (Alice 400). Because of this deformity, Walker had a difficult time growing up (Alice 400). Many people were very reluctant to approach her. However this unfortunate event led Alice to become resilient and a great poet of her time (Toombs).

Throughout her high school career, she became quite popular among her peers and also became valedictorian. Although she became self-conscious due to her abnormal eye, she began to perceive the world as it truly is (Walters 516). After graduating high school, Walker began attending Spelman College on a full scholarship in the 1960s (Adams). At Spelman College, Alice started playing a role as an activist for the Civil Rights movement during the 1960s (Walters 515).

While being an activist, Alice was also falling in love with a civil rights lawyer named Melvyn Roseman Leventhal (Walters 514). They married and conceived a daughter named Rebecca. Although they held mutual feelings for each other, they could not remain to be together due to threats of many Caucasians, including the Klu Klux Klan. They eventually divorced in 1976 (Walters 515).

Alice Walker was known as a writer of short stories, novels, and poems, however, Walker is most recognized as a novelist. Walker wrote a numerous amount of novels and short stories, and essays, Alice is best known for are The Color Purple and Meridian.