A Theme of Equality for African American Women in African American Literature

A Theme of Equality for African American Women in African American Literature

The theme of equality for African American women in their communities is a similar theme for Paule Marshall and Alice Walker. They both connect with women of the past and these identities they connect with. Both women’s identification is related to the exposure of African American culture throughout their lives. Walker states that: "Therefore we must pull out of ourselves and look at and identify with our lives the living creativity some of our great-grandmothers were not allowed to know. I stress some of them because it is well-known that the majority of our great-grandmothers knew without even 'knowing' it, the reality of their spirituality, even if they didn't recognize it beyond what happened in the singing at church" (Walker, 1996, pp. 2318-2319).

Alice Walker's Creative Spirituality

Alice Walker believes it is important to identify with the subconscious and spirituality of African American women. She expresses creative spirituality and culture through her writings, which became a bridge that connects the gap between African-American women of the past and their search for self-expression. Even though she had the opportunity and freedom to write, she could identify with the racism faced by her ancestors. She is connected with the hardships and tribulations that African American women were subjected to, and this is how she identifies herself with the ancestors of African American women. Walker defines a creative spirit as an expression of African American women through everyday things such as songs and quilt-making, as seen in "Everyday Use" (Walker, 1973), because these were an expression of art to African American ancestors and could not be taken from them.

Paule Marshall's Spoken Word

Paule Marshall’s identification with her African-American ancestors comes from her mother and her mother's friends. Her essays identify with her mother's African-American tradition, which she expressed. She describes the kitchen setting in "Poets in The Kitchen" she was exposed to as a child, where strong self-expression was a form of art in keeping African tradition alive and was an integral part of their lives (Marshall, 1996, p. 1948). Marshall felt independence through 'the spoken word,' which was the ultimate expression of art and a sense of power because, during her mother's era, women were powerless and would express themselves in their kitchens. These conversations taught Marshall her first lesson in narrative art. She states, "They trained my ear. They set a standard of excellence. That is why my best work must be attributed to them; it stands as a testimony to the rich legacy of language and culture they so freely passed on to me in the word shop of the kitchen" (Marshall, 1996, p. 1952).

Impact of Ancestral Inspiration

Alice Walker's essay, "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens" (Walker, 1983), and Paule Marshall's "Poets in The Kitchen" focus on African-American women of the past and how these women impacted their writings. These women inspired both authors to become African American writers, utilizing different means of expression. Alice Walker expresses independence through creative spirit, while Paule Marshall celebrates these women's lives through the spoken word. Their works serve not only as a tribute to their ancestors but also as a beacon of hope and empowerment for future generations of African American women.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both African American writers express the importance of identity, independence, and inspiration. They have connected with their ancestors, found a common identity, and discovered them as an inspiration for their writings. They share many similarities as well as differences, but their goal remains to inspire women and tell their stories. Through their literature, they continue to honor the legacy of African American women and advocate for equality and self-expression.

References

• Marshall, P. (1996). Poets in the Kitchen. In The Norton Anthology of African American Literature (pp. 1948-1952). W.W. Norton & Company.
• Walker, A. (1973). Everyday Use. In In Love & Trouble: Stories of Black Women. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
• Walker, A. (1983). In Search of Our Mother's Gardens. In In Search of Our Mother's Gardens: Womanist Prose. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
• Walker, A. (1996). In Search of Our Mother's Gardens. In The Norton Anthology of African American Literature (pp. 2318-2319). W.W. Norton & Company.