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.