Novel Project: Biography

Alice Walker's Biography

Author of The Color Purple

1944-Now

Alice Walker was born on February 9, 1944 in Eatonton, GA. She was the youngest of her mother and father's eight children. In 1952 her life was changed forever when she was hit in her right eye with a BB gun. This was an accident that happened while her older brother and her were playimg a game of Cowboys and Indians. From that day on she dreamed of suicide but instead found interest in writing poetry and short stories.

Despite all of the troubles she faced she still continued to write stories. Her Pilitizer Prize winning novel was The Color Purple, this story is based on the life of a black girl named Celie in the South. This novel was later turned into a movie the year of 1982 which left her feeling really sucessful. The movie as well as the book was criticized by the public, mostly for Celie's husband, Mr.______, who was a stubborn, wife beating man, and this was a symbolise for the entire black male race. This did not slow Alice down fro m her career she continued to do more.

Not only did Alice write novels but she participated in them as well, for example The Color Purple. This story was based on true life experiences for her as well as the characters. The novel actually was focused on a certain time in the Deep South where members of her family were dealing with these issues, except in the book the characters name are changed. The Color Purple at the time when it was written sent out a message to women who struggled for freedom from men such as their husband and fathers. The events that happened in the story left a huge impact on her life because they were so real and actually had once existed.

Her purpose for writing The Color Purple was for black women to not give up on what they believed was right. With that being said she also participated in the Civil Rights Movement for women. In the novel Celie is the main character who is forced to be a mother, daughter, wife, and sister to the others, but through it all she is beaten by her husband for anything he feels she did wrong. This didn't fit well with Alice, so in her novel and movie towards the end Celie finally gains the strength to stand up to her husband. Alice Walker has made a big impact on the black women today and of our past generations, because she showed the true views of things and what was reall happening.