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Portrait of Alice Malsenior Walker

Photo: Liberty Media for Women, LLC · CC BY-SA 4.0

Alice Malsenior Walker

Champion of Global Justice

Friend of PalestineNot Palestinian, and stood with Palestine
Born
9 February 1944
Born in
Eatonton, Georgia, U.S
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Why Alice is here

Advocacy for Palestinian Rights

Their story

Alice Walker, born in Eatonton, Georgia, in 1944, is an American novelist, poet and activist. Her novel The Color Purple made her the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and she took part in the civil rights movement as a young woman.

She visited Gaza in 2009, sailed with the 2011 Freedom Flotilla that tried to break the blockade, and in 2012 refused to let The Color Purple be published in Hebrew by an Israeli house, in support of the boycott.

Milestones

The moments that shaped Alice’s path.

  1. Pulitzer Prize for Fiction

    In 1982, Walker became the first African-American woman to win this prestigious award for her novel "The Color Purple".

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  2. Recovery of Zora Neale Hurston's Work

    Walker was instrumental in reviving interest in this Harlem Renaissance writer, which significantly impacted African-American literature.

  3. Activism in the Civil Rights Movement

    During the 1960s, Walker actively participated in voter registration drives and worked for the Legal Defense Fund of the NAACP.

  4. Academic Contributions

    Walker taught at several institutions, enhancing her role as an educator and mentor to young writers and activists.

  5. International Advocacy

    Walker's visit to Gaza in 2009 highlighted her commitment to international human rights, particularly her support for Palestinians.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Literary Innovation

    Walker's narratives often focus on the struggles and triumphs of African-American women, bringing their voices to the forefront of American literature.

  2. Womanism

    She coined the term "womanism" to describe a form of feminist philosophy that emphasizes the experiences of women of color.

  3. Cultural Preservation

    Through her literary and public life, Walker has helped preserve and celebrate African-American heritage and its influence on national culture.

  4. Global Activism

    Her advocacy extends globally, particularly her opposition to Israeli policies in Palestine and her support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

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  5. Environmental and Animal Rights

    Walker is also known for her environmental activism and animal rights advocacy, demonstrating her commitment to a broad range of social justice issues.

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Watch & listen

Alice in interviews, talks and coverage.

  • 01Pulitzer Prize for Fiction↗

  • 02Global Activism↗

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