In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens

In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens

• Genre: Nonfiction; Essay Collection; Feminism
• Originally Published: 1983
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1160L; College/Adult
• Structure/Length: Divided into 4 parts; approx. 418 pages; approx. 12 hours and 15 minutes on audiobook
• Central Concern: In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens is a collection of essays that delves into the themes of womanhood, race, culture, history, and artistic expression. The title essay pays homage to the creative spirit of the Black women of the past who were denied the opportunity to express themselves and had to channel their creativity into gardening and other often-overlooked endeavors. Walker uses these essays to explore the struggles, resilience, and creative spirit of Black women throughout history, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating their contributions.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Discussions of racial discrimination, gender inequality, and cultural marginalization; some mature themes related to identity, sexuality, abortion, suicide/self-harm, and domestic violence

Alice Walker, Author

• Bio: Born 1944; acclaimed American novelist, essayist, and activist; a significant voice in literature, especially concerning Black womanhood, activism, and feminism; made history as the first African American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction; a proponent of womanist theory, which centers the experiences of Black women
• Other Works: The Way Forward Is with a Broken Heart (2000); Possessing the Secret of Joy (1992); The Color Purple (1982); Meridian (1976); The Third Life of Grange Copeland (1970)
• Awards: Mahmoud Darwish Literary Prize for Fiction (2016); O. Henry Award (1986); Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction (1983)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Womanism Versus Feminism
• How to be a Politically Engaged Artist
• The Role of Mothers and Daughters

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop a working understanding of Alice Walker’s term “womanism” and explore how Walker’s intentions as an artist are reflected in her work.
• Study paired texts and other resources to make connections to the text’s three themes of Womanism Versus Feminism, How to be a Politically Engaged Artist, and The Role of Mothers and Daughters.
• Analyze the 1985 film version of Walker’s novel The Color Purple and evaluate the ways in which the film explores the unit themes developed in In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens.
• Analyze and evaluate theme, narrative structure, symbolism, and other literary elements to draw conclusions in structured essays regarding activism, relationships, home and belonging, and personal development.