Meridian

novel by Walker

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 15, 2026

Quick Summary

Meridian is a 1976 novel by Alice Walker that focuses on the coming of age of several civil rights workers in the 1960s. It is noted for its insightful treatment of African American culture, particularly concerning women. The novel is part of a broader "Black women's literary renaissance" of the 1970s, where writers like Walker explored themes of race, gender, and class. Walker's work often delves into the experiences of African American women, addressing issues such as sexism and abuse within the community.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

African American literature
Alice Walker
…/ Be an outcast”; and Meridian (1976), a novelistic redefinition of African American motherhood. In 1982 Walker’s most famous novel, The Color Purple, an epistolary novel that depicted rape, incest, bisexuality, and lesbian love among African Americans, won the Pulitzer Prize and the
Read More
…/ Be an outcast”; and Meridian (1976), a novelistic redefinition of African American motherhood. In 1982 Walker’s most famous novel, The Color Purple, an epistolary novel that depicted rape, incest, bisexuality, and lesbian love among African Americans, won the Pulitzer Prize and the
Read More

Alice Walker
First writings
magazine, Walker completed Meridian (1976), a novel describing the coming of age of several civil rights workers in the 1960s. In 1981 she published the short-story collection You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down. It includes “Nineteen Fifty-five,” which addresses the exploitation of Black music by white musicians…
Read More
magazine, Walker completed Meridian (1976), a novel describing the coming of age of several civil rights workers in the 1960s. In 1981 she published the short-story collection You Can’t Keep a Good Woman Down. It includes “Nineteen Fifty-five,” which addresses the exploitation of Black music by white musicians…
Read More