Alice Walker is a renowned author. She’s also a grave hunter. In the 1970s, she set out to discover the final resting place of a long lost voice of authentic Blackness. What she found changed history forever.
Alice Walker is famous for The Color Purple, but here’s a little known fact about the author who gave us the line “You told Harpo to beat me.” Alice Walker was a grave hunter.
Walker read Hurston's classic "Their Eyes Were Watching God" and felt an instant kinship with Hurston’s abiding love for the complexity and richness of the Black community. Walker simply couldn't understand how such a writer had fallen into obscurity.
Walker's desire to uncover more about Hurston first led her to Hurston's hometown of Eatonville, Florida. From there, she hopped from people and places, hoping to learn more about her kindred spirit. She ultimately found her unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida. The journey influenced Walker's writing and made her all the more determined to revive Hurston's legacy.
Walker identified with Hurston's fearless spirit, unapologetic voice, and celebration of African American culture, and drew on her gift for storytelling and her advocacy for social justice. The bond between these two remarkable authors transcended time, bridging generations of writers who continue to be inspired by their enduring legacies.
Alice Walker's connection to Zora Neale Hurston and their shared love and respect for Blackness and the Black community has left an indelible mark on Black literature. Their work has carved out spaces for authentic Black voices and experiences. Because of them, future writers will continue exploring the richness of the African American experience with courage and creativity.