In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Alice Walker’s collection of essays is subtitled “Womanist Prose,” a term Walker herself coined. What is womanism, and how does it differ from the feminist movement? How does an understanding of womanism help set the context for reading Walker’s text?

Teaching Suggestion: It may be helpful to introduce Womanism Versus Feminism as one of the unit’s main themes before students respond to the prompt. Consider helping students view the concept of womanism as a critical framework for understanding much of Walker’s purpose and intention in the text. The resources below may help students develop a stronger foundation and understanding of this theme.

• This page from the Howard University Law Library explains the origins of the term “womanist” and how it fits into the broader fight against racism and sexism. The page includes a 3-minute video that further explains the philosophy around womanism.
• This resource features an excerpt from Walker’s introductory section to In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens, in which she defines who and what a womanist is.