Alice Walker’s novel, The Color Purple is a reflection of Walker’s own personal struggles in life. Not necessarily the same struggles as the characters in her book but struggles that formed the person that she has become. Writing saved me from the sin and inconvenience of violence” -Alice Walker (Lewis 1). Walker is considered to an African American novelist, short story writers poet, essayist, and activist. Most of her literature are mostly from her personal experiences and are morale to numbers of African American all over the world. Walker defines herself as a “womanist” which means the prophetic voice concerned about the well-being of the entire African American community, male and female, adults and children (2). Womanist theology attempts to help black women see, affirm, and have confidence in the importance of their experience and faith for determining the character of the Christian religion in the African American community (3). Alice Walker went through many experiences the really influenced her views about herself as well views of everything that surrounded her. These difficulties molded her views and created the writer that she is today. Alice Walker illustrates the importance of understanding our present life in relation to the traditions of our own people and culture. Using careful descriptions and attitudes, Walker demonstrates which factors contribute to the values of one's heritage and culture; she illustrates that these are represented not by the possession of objects or mere appearances, but by one's lifestyle and attitude.
Alice Walker was born in Eatonville, Georgia on February 9th, 1944 (Clark 1). She grew up in the South where racism and segregation was prominent. Women had very little rights and when a woman was beat it was not seen as a very big issue. Growing up in the South exposed Alice Walker to a harsh and cruel society. Being brought up in a society exposed to racism deeply influenced Walker’s writing and life’s work. The time...