Alice Walker: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Alice Walker's womanism was built by excavation: she literally found Zora Neale Hurston's unmarked grave in 1973 and put a headstone on it, and she read Flannery O'Connor's Georgia against her own sharecropper childhood a few miles away. This mix traces the mothers' gardens she tended, the Spelman radicals who taught her, and the writers who inherited her.

The Kynda mix for Alice Walker

• Key Influence · Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (1937). Walker's single most consequential act of literary recovery: in 1973 she traveled to Fort Pierce, Florida, waded into an overgrown field and marked Hurston's unmarked grave with a stone reading "A Genius of the South." Her 1975 Ms. essay "In Search of Zora Neale Hurston" returned this novel to print and to syllabi. Janie's vernacular voice and refusal of respectability shape Celie directly.
• Influencia Obscura · Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Jackson by Rebecca Cox Jackson (1981). A nineteenth-century free Black Shaker eldress who taught herself to read by divine instruction and recorded visions in astonishing prose. Walker reviewed this edited collection and reprinted the piece in In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, arguing with the editor's framing of Jackson's bond with Rebecca Perot. It is a key source for Walker's sense of Black women's spiritual authorship outside the church.
• Local Roots · A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor (1955). O'Connor lived at Andalusia farm in Milledgeville, Georgia, a short drive from the Eatonton house where Walker's family sharecropped. Walker's essay "Beyond the Peacock: The Reconstruction of Flannery O'Connor" records visiting both houses with her mother and weighing her admiration for O'Connor's refusal to sentimentalize white Southerners against the stark inequality between the two properties.
• Beyond the Medium · A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn (1980). Zinn taught history at Spelman while Walker was a student and became a lasting mentor; when he was fired in 1963 she protested, and she spoke at his memorial decades later. His method of writing history from below, through the testimony of the unrecorded, is precisely the operation Walker performs on Black women's lives in Mothers' Gardens and in the epistolary structure of The Color Purple.
• Peer · Sula by Toni Morrison (1973). Morrison was an editor at Random House in the same years Walker was publishing her first books, and the two defined the 1970s emergence of Black women's fiction in America, often reviewed and taught in tandem. Sula's portrait of female friendship as the novel's true love story, and its Ohio Bottom as a self-contained Black world, runs parallel to Walker's Celie and Shug.
• From the Canon · In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker (1983). The book that gave the word "womanist" its four-part definition and the volume that explains every novel around it: the Hurston recovery, the O'Connor pilgrimage, the title essay's argument that her mother's extravagant flower garden was suppressed artistry finding its only outlet. Read it and the method behind The Color Purple's letters becomes legible as deliberate historical repair.
• Key Collaborator · The Color Purple by Steven Spielberg (1985). Quincy Jones brought the novel to Spielberg and produced and scored the film; Walker consulted on set and later published The Same River Twice, an unusually candid account of the adaptation, her rejected screenplay drafts, her illness during production and her ambivalence about the result. Eleven Oscar nominations and zero wins made it a landmark in its own right.
• Legacy · An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018). An Atlanta novelist who has repeatedly named Walker among the writers who made her own career imaginable, Jones works the same ground: Georgia, marriage strained to breaking by an unjust carceral system, and a structure built substantially from letters between separated spouses. The epistolary spine is a direct inheritance from The Color Purple, redeployed for the prison era.

What influenced Alice Walker

• Zora Neale Hurston (1891). The article places Walker’s writing about religion in a literary tradition that includes Hurston. (also via In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, Their Eyes Were Watching God) “Walker’s appreciation for her matrilineal literary history is evidenced by the numerous reviews and articles she has published to acquaint new generations of readers with writers like Zora Neale Hurston.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• Howard Zinn. The article identifies Zinn as one of Walker’s professors and mentors. (also via A People's History of the United States) “She found two of her professors, Howard Zinn and Staughton Lynd , to be great mentors during her time at Spelman, but both were transferred two years later.” (Wikipedia)
• Gloria Steinem. The article describes Steinem as Walker’s mentor. (also via Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions) “Her godmother is Alice Walker's mentor and co-founder of Ms. magazine, Gloria Steinem .” (Wikipedia)
• Martin Luther King Jr.. Walker credits King with influencing her decision to become an activist in the South. (also via Letter from Birmingham Jail) “She credits King for her decision to return to the American South as an activist in the Civil Rights Movement .” (Wikipedia)
• And the Truth Shall Set You Free by David Icke. Walker listed and praised Icke’s book when asked what was on her nightstand. “She listed Icke's And the Truth Shall Set You Free, a book promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory which draws on The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and questions the Holocaust . Walker said: "In Icke's books there is the whole of ex…” (Wikipedia)
• Langston Hughes (1902). Alice Walker, discovered by Hughes, viewed him as an influence and hero. “This latter group, including Alice Walker , whom Hughes discovered, looked upon Hughes as a hero and an example to be emulated within their own work” (Wikipedia)
• A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn (1980). A People's History of the United States (Howard Zinn) — culture for Alice Walker “She found two of her professors, Howard Zinn and Staughton Lynd, to be great mentors during her time at Spelman, but both were transferred two years later.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Muriel Rukeyser. Rukeyser was Walker’s professor and mentor and helped circulate her poems. “Walker would slip her poetry under the office door of her professor and mentor, Muriel Rukeyser , when she was a student at Sarah Lawrence. Rukeyser then showed the poems to her literary agent .” (Wikipedia)
• Staughton Lynd. The article identifies Lynd as one of Walker’s professors and mentors. “She found two of her professors, Howard Zinn and Staughton Lynd , to be great mentors during her time at Spelman, but both were transferred two years later.” (Wikipedia)
• Georgia Dusk by Jean Toomer. Walker used a line from Toomer’s poem on the marker she placed at Hurston’s grave. “Walker had it marked with a gray marker stating ZORA NEALE HURSTON / A GENIUS OF THE SOUTH / NOVELIST FOLKLORIST / ANTHROPOLOGIST / 1901–1960. [ 13 ] [ 14 ] The line "a genius of the south" is from Jean Toomer 's poem Georgia Dusk , whic…” (Wikipedia)
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (1937). Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston) — titan for Alice Walker “Hunt discovered an unmarked grave they believed to be that of Zora Neale Hurston in Ft.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Cane by Jean Toomer (1923). Cane (Jean Toomer) — titan for Alice Walker “The line "a genius of the south" is from Jean Toomer's poem Georgia Dusk, which appears in his book Cane.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Human Race Get Off Your Knees: The Lion Sleeps No More by David Icke. Walker named Icke’s book as the one she would take to a desert island. “On BBC Radio 4 's Desert Island Discs , she said that Icke's book Human Race Get Off Your Knees: The Lion Sleeps No More , which contains antisemitic conspiracy theories, would be the book she would take to a desert island.” (Wikipedia)
• Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Jackson by Rebecca Cox Jackson (1981). Gifts of Power: The Writings of Rebecca Jackson (Rebecca Cox Jackson) — ghost for Alice Walker “Connor in her discussion of Alice Walker's review of Jackson's autobiography, "Jackson's choice to embrace a 'marginal identity' casts her as an actual example of one who lived a womanist lifestyle in Walker's terms and her own brand of …” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Black Boy by Richard Wright (1945). Black Boy (Richard Wright) — titan for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• A Question of Power by Bessie Head (1973). A Question of Power (Bessie Head) — ghost for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• Tao Te Ching by Laozi. Tao Te Ching (Laozi) — culture for Alice Walker (wikidata.org)
• Natty Dread by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1974). Natty Dread (Bob Marley and the Wailers) — culture for Alice Walker

Peers and kindred spirits

• Pratibha Parmar. Walker and Parmar coauthored Warrior Marks. (also via Warrior Marks) “This novel led to the 1993 book and documentary film Warrior Marks: Female Genital Mutilation and the Sexual Blinding of Women, both collaborations with British-Indian filmmaker Pratibha Parmar” (Alice Walker's Garden)
• Wild Tree Press. Walker co-founded the publishing company Wild Tree Press. “Since they began in 1984, Wild Trees Press has published six titles by women and men of various colors.” (Alice Walker's Garden)
• Tougaloo College. Walker held a writer-in-residence post at Tougaloo College. “Writer in residence and teacher of black studies at Jackson State College, 1968-69, and Tougaloo College, 1970-71; lecturer in literature, Wellesley College and University of Massachusetts—Boston, both 1972-73” (Encyclopedia.com)
• Brandeis University. Walker taught a class at Brandeis University. “Walker has taught African American women’s studies to college students at Wellesley, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Yale, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• University of Massachusetts Boston. Walker taught a course at the University of Massachusetts Boston. “Walker has taught African American women’s studies to college students at Wellesley, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Yale, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• Yale University. Walker gave lectures at Yale University. “Walker has taught African American women’s studies to college students at Wellesley, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Yale, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• Jackson State University. Walker held a writer-in-residence post at Jackson State University. “Writer in residence and teacher of black studies at Jackson State College, 1968-69, and Tougaloo College, 1970-71” (Encyclopedia.com)
• Wellesley College. The article says Walker also taught at Wellesley College. “Walker has taught African American women’s studies to college students at Wellesley, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Yale, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• University of California, Berkeley. Walker gave lectures at the University of California, Berkeley. “Walker has taught African American women’s studies to college students at Wellesley, the University of Massachusetts at Boston, Yale, Brandeis, and the University of California at Berkeley.” (New Georgia Encyclopedia)
• Warrior Marks by Pratibha Parmar (1993). Warrior Marks (Pratibha Parmar) — collaborator for Alice Walker “In 1993, Alice Walker coauthored a novel, Warrior Marks, alongside feminist activist Pratibha Parmar.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Charlotte D. Hunt. Walker and Hunt worked together to locate what they believed was Hurston’s grave. “In 1973, before becoming editor of Ms. magazine, Walker and literary scholar Charlotte D. Hunt discovered an unmarked grave they believed to be that of Zora Neale Hurston in Ft. Pierce, Florida .” (Wikipedia)
• Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions by Gloria Steinem (1983). Outrageous Acts and Everyday Rebellions (Gloria Steinem) — collaborator for Alice Walker “magazine, Gloria Steinem.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Letter from Birmingham Jail by Martin Luther King Jr. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail (Martin Luther King Jr.) — geography for Alice Walker “== Activism == === Civil rights === Walker met Martin Luther King Jr.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde (1984). Sister Outsider (Audre Lorde) — peer for Alice Walker “Similarly, author and poet Alice Walker coined the term "womanist" in an attempt to distinguish black female and minority female experience from "feminism".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Color Purple by Steven Spielberg (1985). The Color Purple (Steven Spielberg) — collaborator for Alice Walker “The book became a bestseller, and it was subsequently adapted into a critically acclaimed 1985 movie which was directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Oprah Winfrey and Whoopi Goldberg, as well as a 2005 Broadway musical totaling 910 perf…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Robert Allen. Wagner identifies Walker and Allen as partners in Wild Trees Press. “As you probably know, Wild Trees Press is located in Navarro and belongs to Alice Walker, world- renowned writer and womanist, and to her partner, Robert Allen, writer and scholar.” (Alice Walker's Garden)
• Toni Morrison (1931). The Color Purple (Alice Walker) — peer for Toni Morrison (via The Color Purple, Sula) (openlibrary.org)
• Sula by Toni Morrison (1973). Sula (Toni Morrison) — peer for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor (1955). A Good Man Is Hard to Find (Flannery O'Connor) — geography for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• Coming of Age in Mississippi by Anne Moody (1968). Coming of Age in Mississippi (Anne Moody) — geography for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange (1976). for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf (Ntozake Shange) — peer for Alice Walker

Who Alice Walker influenced

• Beauty in Truth. Parmar’s documentary film is about Walker. “Filmmaker Pratibha Parmar’s new documentary tells Walker’s dramatic life story with poetry and lyricism, and features new interviews with Walker, Steven Spielberg, Danny Glover, Quincy Jones, Gloria Steinem, Sapphire and the late Howard …” (PBS American Masters)
• Phalia (Portrait of Alice Walker). Sulter’s photograph is a portrait of Walker. “The model here is the author and feminist Alice Walker, winner of the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple. Here she is represented as Phalia, the muse of comedy and the bringer of flowers.” (Victoria and Albert Museum)
• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson (2014). Brown Girl Dreaming (Jacqueline Woodson) — legacy for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018). An American Marriage (Tayari Jones) — legacy for Alice Walker (openlibrary.org)
• Kendrick Lamar (1987). The Color Purple (Alice Walker) — culture for Kendrick Lamar (via The Color Purple) (openlibrary.org)