Alice Walker Interview: Joining The Civil Rights Movement & Writing 'The Color Purple'

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  • Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
  • Alice Walker recalls the influence of both her parents, being the youngest of 8 children, her family facing racism, how she fell in love with art at a young age, immediately joining the Civil Rights Movement when she got to college, and starting her first book while living in Africa. Walker discusses how her 10th and most popular book, The Color Purple was inspired by stories from her Grandparents and why she was determined to have people understand their voices.
    Alice Walker is an American writer, poet, and activist. Born in Eatonton, Georgia on February 9, 1944, the daughter of sharecroppers, Walker was injured in a childhood accident that blinded her in one eye. Her mother felt Walker would be better suited for writing than doing chores. Her writing and academic prowess afforded her a scholarship to Spelman College, where she studied for two years before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College, where she graduated in 1965. After graduation, Waker moved to Mississippi to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. She began teaching and writing poetry, short stories, and essays. In 1967, Walker married Melvyn Rosenman Leventhal, a Jewish civil rights lawyer and the couple became the first legally married interracial couple in Mississippi. The couple had a daughter before divorcing in 1976. Walker published her first book of poetry, Once (1968) and first novel, The Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970) to much acclaim. In the late 1970s, Walker moved to Northern California, where she wrote her most popular novel, The Color Purple in 1982. The book, which explores themes of gender and sexuality and features a lesbian relationship, won a Pulitzer Prize. It was adapted into a film by Steven Spielberg in 1985 starring Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey would later produce a musical version of the book with Quincy Jones in 2004. Walker continues to publish essays, short stories, and poems including a memoir, The Chicken Chronicles, in 2011.
    From the 2013 PBS Documentary “Makers: Women Who Make America”, examines how women have helped shape America over the past 150 years, striving for a full and fair share of political power and economic opportunity.
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    Alice Walker, Writer & Activist
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 69

  • @mikemillionaire81
    @mikemillionaire81 9 місяців тому +27

    I could sit and listen to her story’s all day. You could learn alot from her just by listening.

  • @DewdropsAndBlueberries
    @DewdropsAndBlueberries 3 місяці тому +5

    her voice is sooo calming 😍

  • @crmay72
    @crmay72 25 днів тому +1

    What a beautiful woman, inside and out! Like a previous poster stated, I could listen to her talk all day long. She has a very soothing, comforting voice.

  • @umiiyabode
    @umiiyabode 8 місяців тому +6

    I have adored Alice Walker for decades now. She is an amazing human being, clear-minded, compassionate, courageous, and authentic. Her work has kept me sane in an insane world. I am grateful to and for her.

  • @TuanRahman
    @TuanRahman 3 місяці тому +2

    She looks exceptionally radiant and talks so articulate for someone who's 69 years old (this interview took place in 2013). I wish I could have half her energy when I get to her age.

  • @npguru
    @npguru 8 місяців тому +7

    I love her so much. I met her in the early 2000s. I was so moved by her presence and my reading of her book "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens" that I became overwhelmed in telling her how her stories impacted my own life.

  • @RamonaBrooks-cs5ny
    @RamonaBrooks-cs5ny 10 місяців тому +12

    Wow her life's story is a movie. As a young person I could listen to her speak all day. So many wonderful life lessons and jewels found in this interview. Beautifully done!

  • @lightuponlight6727
    @lightuponlight6727 8 місяців тому +9

    And she looks so radiant and healthy. Her skin is so smooth her voice so silky...

  • @AngelaKHarrell
    @AngelaKHarrell 10 місяців тому +12

    This is such a wonderful interview. As a woman born at the end of the 1960s, I was born during the civil rights era but grew up in a misogynistic household because my mother died at such a young age. For me, Ms. Walker's works illuminate so much of the darkness within me as a woman AND as a writer, and I will forever be grateful. May she always be blessed by God.

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому +3

    When Walker speaks of her writing she lights up completely. She has many more stories to give to the world. Thank you for sharing your creative mind 💕👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️

  • @christinewawira3651
    @christinewawira3651 6 місяців тому +3

    As a Kenyan studying in the US and currently reading 'Meridian' by Alice Walker for my literature class, and watching this video, it feels great to understand her story. I am also proud to hear that her first book began in Kenya. Thank you Alice Walker for your continued inspiration 🇰🇪🇰🇪❤️❤️

  • @mariamysoul
    @mariamysoul Рік тому +14

    Thank you, Thank you, Thank you....... what a gift to hear her speak and share so much of her wisdom.

  • @BlankmanJ-5
    @BlankmanJ-5 9 місяців тому +5

    An awesome writer....amazing talent and treasure....as an African American man.....she gave me different views to my soul....pain and soberiety.....🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

  • @deemorgan4479
    @deemorgan4479 10 місяців тому +11

    I absolutely love this interview with Ms. Walker. She is so humble and brilliant!

  • @cypress2212
    @cypress2212 8 місяців тому +2

    She is one of one. Will forever love her poetry. Thank you Ms. Alice Walker...❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @lisahall01
    @lisahall01 10 місяців тому +8

    What a beautiful soul, lady, and interview! 😌Thank you 🙏🏾for taking the to Interview this living legend at this point in time. She has always been one of my favorite authors.❤

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому +2

    4:23 Simple Beautiful! Awesome Spirit! Thank you for sharing your beautiful journey of love for humanity.💕🙏

  • @elvisiscat
    @elvisiscat 8 місяців тому +2

    I always learn invaluable & timeless lessons from Alice’s various means of expression, including in interviews like this. ❤️❤️❤️

  • @actuallyitsshanice9118
    @actuallyitsshanice9118 5 місяців тому +1

    I loved this so so much, now I definitely need to read all of her books. Just her voice alone and the perspective she has is sooo insightful 🩷

  • @i-like-water
    @i-like-water 6 місяців тому +1

    Loved this interview. One of the most heart full interviews on the internet. Amazing Job Walker.

  • @hawkarae
    @hawkarae 10 місяців тому +7

    Beautiful soul. Thank you very much ❤

  • @goodnatureart
    @goodnatureart Рік тому +7

    beautiful conversation. Thanks

  • @trinawilliams3459
    @trinawilliams3459 10 місяців тому +4

    Alice Walker your vision your parents your ancestors gave birth to the COLOR PURPLE I never read the book but I admire You THANK YOU FOR THE COLOR PURPLE 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜👏🏽👏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

  • @byrolyn8182
    @byrolyn8182 9 місяців тому +5

    What an outstanding interview!!!!!

  • @nilacurry4230
    @nilacurry4230 Рік тому +7

    Sooooo good. Food for the soul

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому +1

    I can see and feel your spiritual aura. It’s beautiful!💕

  • @natasharochelle3218
    @natasharochelle3218 10 місяців тому +5

    What a life changing Intrview❤

  • @InsaRose
    @InsaRose Рік тому +7

    Beautiful!

  • @marlinemassasoit4914
    @marlinemassasoit4914 9 місяців тому +3

    I NEED TO MEET YOU!!!!! Inspirational

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому +1

    Oh, my heavens!💕

  • @victoriarice9595
    @victoriarice9595 9 місяців тому +3

    💜💜💜💜💜

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому

    👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼thank you for your comment, yes it’s seamless!💕

  • @La-Keeyatta
    @La-Keeyatta 9 місяців тому +4

    she looks soooo good!

  • @sandrakillett9242
    @sandrakillett9242 8 місяців тому

    Yes, thanks for that comment 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💕

  • @byrolyn8182
    @byrolyn8182 9 місяців тому +3

    It is wonderful to see a brilliant, beautiful, iconic African American/ Native American woman. ❤

    • @jolenesimon6123
      @jolenesimon6123 9 місяців тому

      She's African American. She would not be accepted by Native Americans

  • @bourge66
    @bourge66 8 місяців тому +1

  • @talkttalk2010
    @talkttalk2010 Рік тому +1

    I’m surprised there’s no mention of Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah or Stephen Spielberg 🤔

    • @michellelaguerre8760
      @michellelaguerre8760 10 місяців тому +6

      I am not surprised because she has been a powerful writer before Oprah or Whoopi was on TV. Spielberg may have made some impact on the movie but not so much in her life story. This interview is mostly based on her life as an African-American woman writer and more

    • @talkttalk2010
      @talkttalk2010 10 місяців тому

      @@michellelaguerre8760 very true but her book The Colour Purple would not have become as well known as it did if not for Spielberg and Whoopi Goldberg

  • @rodderickjames-bp5rp
    @rodderickjames-bp5rp 11 місяців тому

    🥰

  • @kapple654
    @kapple654 Рік тому +27

    She is one of the best writers alive today - of any colour. Sorry Americans but you don't own her, she is too great - she is global - like Arundhati roy, Murakami, Salman Rushdie, Alan Bennet, Mohsin Hamid or Iosbelle Carmody. ... I cannot think of anyone else alive that is universally as poignant - obviously there are many greats that are dead. like 99.9% more.

    • @jolenesimon6123
      @jolenesimon6123 9 місяців тому +4

      She is a great African American

    • @godshallsmiteyouu
      @godshallsmiteyouu 7 місяців тому

      @@jolenesimon6123….and that’s what I love! 🫶🏾❤️😇

    • @sc-bj2fs
      @sc-bj2fs 3 місяці тому +2

      How privileged of you to make such an ignorant statement.
      You can't have her. To have her is to change everything that informed her need to write. Didn't you listen to her stories?

  • @byrolyn8182
    @byrolyn8182 9 місяців тому

    See below

  • @byrolyn8182
    @byrolyn8182 9 місяців тому +2

    ACCORDING TO REVELATION S, JESUS HAS FEET Of BRONZE AS BURNT IN A FURNACE AND HAIR LIKE WOOL.

  • @uamiable
    @uamiable 3 місяці тому

    « a deep troubled evil that damages everything it touches »

    • @uamiable
      @uamiable 3 місяці тому

      « Why is the child crying? »

  • @byrolyn8182
    @byrolyn8182 9 місяців тому +2

    JESUS IS NOT EUROPEAN LOOKING.. GET OVER IT. 😂

  • @theajcchannel1331
    @theajcchannel1331 8 місяців тому

    Unfortunately, her only child, Rebecca Walker, had a very negative and traumatizing experience with Alice Walker, been a nonexistent Mother.

  • @devorrickwatson976
    @devorrickwatson976 9 місяців тому

    That book and that movie is disgraceful to black people

    • @godshallsmiteyouu
      @godshallsmiteyouu 7 місяців тому

      Yet, the “Bible” condoned you people being slaves! Lol jajajaja 😂

  • @Wack-rp9nz
    @Wack-rp9nz 8 місяців тому

    Color Purple was just a anti black male hit piece. Propaganda

    • @godshallsmiteyouu
      @godshallsmiteyouu 7 місяців тому +1

      And 75% of y’all still ain’t shi!! Jajajaja 😂