Margaret Walker Quotes

A collection of quotes by Margaret Walker.

Margaret Walker (1915-1998) was an American poet, novelist, and scholar. She was born on July 7, 1915, in Birmingham, Alabama. Walker grew up in a tightly-knit African American community, where she was deeply influenced by the rich cultural heritage and historical struggle for civil rights.

Walker attended Northwestern University, where she became the first African American to graduate with a master's degree in creative writing. Her groundbreaking thesis, a collection of poems titled "For My People," won a poetry prize and was later published as her acclaimed debut collection in 1942. This work, focusing on the experiences of African Americans in the South, established Walker as a prominent voice of the Harlem Renaissance.

In addition to her poetry, Walker wrote a novel titled "Jubilee" (1966), which chronicled the lives of multiple generations of a black family from slavery to freedom. This historical epic, based on her own family's oral history, received critical acclaim and is considered a classic of African American literature.

Throughout her career, Margaret Walker became a prominent figure in the Black Arts Movement and an influential voice in the advancement of African American literature and culture. She was also a dedicated educator, teaching at several universities and serving as the director of the Institute for the Study of History, Life, and Culture of Black People at Jackson State University.

Margaret Walker's literary contributions and her commitment to exploring African American history and culture make her an important figure in American literature. She passed away on November 30, 1998, in Chicago, leaving behind a significant legacy that continues to inspire generations.