Rebecca Walker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rebecca Walker
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Press photo, 2003
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Rebecca Leventhal
November 17, 1969 Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Yale University |
| Occupation | Writer, feminist |
| Partner(s) | Rachel M. Harper |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Alice Walker Melvyn Leventhal |
Rebecca Walker (born November 17, 1969) is an American writer, activist, and feminist. She is known as an important voice in what is called Third-Wave Feminism. She even came up with the name for this movement.
In 1992, she wrote an article for Ms. magazine called "Becoming the Third Wave." In it, she announced, "I am the Third Wave." This article helped start a new chapter in the movement for women's rights.
Walker's work focuses on topics like race, gender, and politics. She co-founded the Third Wave Foundation, an organization that helps young women of color and other groups. The foundation gives them the tools they need to become leaders and activists in their communities.
In 1994, Time magazine named Walker one of the 50 future leaders of America. Her writing has been featured in major publications like The Washington Post and Essence magazine. She has also appeared on TV channels like CNN and MTV.
Contents
Early Life and School
Rebecca was born in 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi. Her mother is Alice Walker, the famous African-American author of The Color Purple. Her father is Melvyn R. Leventhal, a Jewish-American lawyer who worked for civil rights.
Her parents married in New York and then moved to Mississippi to help with the civil rights movement. After they divorced in 1976, Rebecca's childhood was split between two homes. She would spend two years with her father in a mostly Jewish neighborhood in the Bronx, New York. Then she would spend two years with her mother in a mostly African-American community in San Francisco.
After high school, Rebecca went to the famous Yale University. She graduated with honors in 1992.
Activism and Inspiring Others
The Third Wave Foundation
After graduating from Yale, Rebecca and her friend Shannon Liss started the Third Wave Fund. This non-profit group was created to get young women involved in activism and leadership.
Their goal was to help young people become more active in politics and their communities. In its first year, the group helped register over 20,000 new voters in the United States.
The organization later became the Third Wave Foundation in 1997. It continues to give money and support to projects led by young women activists.
Teaching and Speaking
Rebecca believes teaching is a powerful way to help people. She thinks it can give them the courage to speak the truth and the power to change the world. She gives lectures at universities and high schools in the U.S. and other countries.
She has spoken at famous schools like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. She talks about feminism, having a multicultural background, and how different generations can work together.
Books and Writing
Rebecca Walker is a talented author who has written several important books.
Major Books
Her first major work was a book she edited called To be Real: Telling the Truth and Changing the Face of Feminism (1996). The book is a collection of essays from different writers. It explored new ideas about feminism. The book included essays from famous writers like bell hooks and Naomi Wolf. It is now often used in Gender Studies classes at universities.
In 2000, she wrote a book about her childhood called Black, White and Jewish. In this memoir, she talks about growing up in Mississippi with parents who were active in the Civil Rights Movement. She also writes about the challenges of having a mixed-race background in a society that often separates people by race.
Her first novel, Adé: A Love Story, was published in 2013. It tells the story of a biracial American college student who falls in love with a Kenyan man. Their plans are changed when a civil war breaks out in Kenya. The book was liked by both critics and readers.
Other Writing
For many years, Walker was an editor for Ms. magazine. Her articles have appeared in many other magazines, including Harper's, Glamour, and Vibe. She also teaches writing workshops and helps other writers get their books published.
Film Appearances and Projects
In 1998, Rebecca acted in the movie Primary Colors. She played a character named March. The movie is about Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.
In 2014, it was announced that the movie rights to her novel Adé: A Love Story were bought. The famous singer Madonna was set to direct the film.
Awards and Honors
Rebecca Walker has received many awards for her work, including:
- Women of Distinction Award from the American Association of University Women
- "Feminist of the Year" award from the Fund for the Feminist Majority
- "Intrepid Award" from the National Organization for Women
- "Women Who Could Be President Award" from the League of Women Voters
She also received an honorary doctorate degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2016, she was chosen as one of the BBC's 100 Women, a list of inspiring and influential women from around the world.
See also
In Spanish: Rebecca Walker para niños
