In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens

"In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" makes the central point that black women have always been artists who found outlets for their creativity and spirituality in the applied arts, as well as in...

In In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens, Walker uses "contrary instincts" to describe the conflicting forces faced by talented women in oppressive societies. These instincts refer to the clash between a...

Walker emphasizes that black women are seen as "the mule of the world" to highlight the burdens and silencing they face. This metaphor explains how African-American women carry societal burdens...

Alice Walker searches for her mother's garden to understand the creative spirit and spirituality of black women, especially those who were not famous. Her mother's literal garden symbolizes how black...

Alice Walker views Phyllis Wheatley with sympathy, considering her a tragic figure who was "pathetic" and "misunderstood." Walker contrasts Wheatley with Virginia Woolf, highlighting Wheatley's lack...

Alice Walker's "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" contains numerous allusions. She references notable African American singers like Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Aretha Franklin. Walker also...

Walker repeats the word “artist” nine times in her essay “In Search of Our Mother’s Gardens.

The essay begins with a quote by Jean Toomer: "The Negro woman has been neglected in the past. She has suffered too much, and she has too much to give. The time must come when her genius and her art...

Walker's mother displayed her temper in "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens" when confronting their white landlord, who suggested her children did not need to progress beyond being field hands. This...

Alice Walker addresses race and gender by exploring the unfulfilled dreams of women, particularly African-American women, in history. She highlights how societal constraints prevented many talented...

Without positive role models, children may lack a proper respect for education, learning, and self-worth. In "In Search of Our Mothers' Gardens," Alice Walker emphasizes the impact of her mother's...

Walker's mother does not work in a formal sense, but she is engaged in other necessary tasks associated with the domestic sphere such as sewing and quilt making.

Alice Walker observes a profound change in her mother while gardening. Her mother, usually burdened by labor, becomes "radiant" and nearly "invisible" except as a "Creator" when tending to her...

According to Walker, Black women have inherited the "creative spirit." Walker emphasizes that modern African-American women possess narratives filled with courage, sadness, hope, and despair, which,...