The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Alice Walker’s 1982 novel The Color Purple has been repeatedly challenged and banned across the country since its original publication. After winning the 1983 National Book Award for Fiction and the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, making her the first Black American woman to receive the latter, the novel continues to be targeted for censorship.

The Color Purple allows for a deep investigation of and reflection on racism, sexism, gender roles, and the soft power of friendship—themes that people of all backgrounds struggle with. As recently as January 2024, the novel was permanently removed by the Clay County Oversight Committee in Florida from all schools in the county. In times when novels like Alice Walker’s are systematically banned, public libraries are more important than ever, as they can offer free and easy access to literature.