Activism
Walker became interested in the US Civil Rights Movement in part due to the influence of activist Howard Zinn, who was one of her professors at Spelman College. Continuing the activism that she participated in during her college years, Walker returned to the South where she became involved with voter registration drives, campaigns for welfare rights, and children's programs in Mississippi.
Alice met Martin Luther King Jr when she was just a student at Spelman College in early 1960s. Walker credits Luther King for her decision to return to the American South as an activist for the Civil Rights Movement. She marched with thousands in August of 1963 in the March of Washington. As a young adult, she volunteered to registed black voters in Georgia and Mississippi.
On March 8, 2003, on the eve of the Iraq War and also the International Women's Day, Walker with other two authors were arrested along with other 24 people for crossing a police line during an anti-war protest outside the White House. Walker with other 5,000 activists associated different organizations marched from Malcom X Park in Washington to the White House. The activist encircled the White House and during an interview, Walker said, "I was with other women who believe that the women and children of Iraq are just as dear as the women and children in our families, and that, in fact, we are one family. And so it would have felt to me that we were going over to actually bomb ourselves." Walker wrote about the experience in her essay, "We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For."
In 2008, Alice Walker wrote "An Open Letter to Barack Obama" when he was newly elected as President of the United States. Walker addresses the President as "Brother Obama" and writes "Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina, and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about."
Walker has traveled to many other countries with her different organizations to help people and also to fight for the rights of the people that are shutted down.
Alice met Martin Luther King Jr when she was just a student at Spelman College in early 1960s. Walker credits Luther King for her decision to return to the American South as an activist for the Civil Rights Movement. She marched with thousands in August of 1963 in the March of Washington. As a young adult, she volunteered to registed black voters in Georgia and Mississippi.
On March 8, 2003, on the eve of the Iraq War and also the International Women's Day, Walker with other two authors were arrested along with other 24 people for crossing a police line during an anti-war protest outside the White House. Walker with other 5,000 activists associated different organizations marched from Malcom X Park in Washington to the White House. The activist encircled the White House and during an interview, Walker said, "I was with other women who believe that the women and children of Iraq are just as dear as the women and children in our families, and that, in fact, we are one family. And so it would have felt to me that we were going over to actually bomb ourselves." Walker wrote about the experience in her essay, "We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For."
In 2008, Alice Walker wrote "An Open Letter to Barack Obama" when he was newly elected as President of the United States. Walker addresses the President as "Brother Obama" and writes "Seeing you take your rightful place, based solely on your wisdom, stamina, and character, is a balm for the weary warriors of hope, previously only sung about."
Walker has traveled to many other countries with her different organizations to help people and also to fight for the rights of the people that are shutted down.