Meridian (novel)

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Meridian (novel)

Meridian is a 1976

1976 in literature

The year 1976 in literature involved some significant events and new books....
novel by American

United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
author Alice Walker

Alice Walker

Alice Malsenior Walker is an United States author, self-declared feminist and womanist?the latter a term she herself coined to make special distinction for the experiences of women of color....
.

in the 1960s and 70s, Meridian centers on Meridian Hill, a student at the fictitious Saxon College, who becomes active in the Civil Rights movement

African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)

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Plot Summary

Set in the 1960s and 70s, Meridian centers on Meridian Hill, a student at the fictitious Saxon College, who becomes active in the Civil Rights movement

African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)

The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the reform movements in the United States aimed at abolishing racism against African Americans and restoring suffrage in Southern states....
. She becomes romantically involved with another activist, Truman Held, and though he impregnates her, they have a turbulent on-and-off relationship. After Meridian has an abortion, Truman becomes far more attached to her and longs to start a life together. Later Truman becomes involved with a white woman, Lynne Rabinowitz, who is also active in the Civil Rights struggle, though perhaps for the wrong reasons. As time goes by, Truman attempts, unsuccessfully, to achieve personal and financial success while Meridian continues to stay involved in the movement and fight for issues she believes deeply in.

Themes and critiques

Walker wrote the novel at a time when many young blacks were leaning away from the tenets of nonviolence and civil disobedience that characterized the early years of the movement and took on more militant and extreme stances that alienated their supporters. Some literary critics believe that the novel is a critique of the path that the Civil Rights Movement went on, claiming that Walker felt that the revolution never addressed the suffering of women and perpetuated destructive and often chauvinistic values. Many have also felt that Walker used Meridian to showcase her womanist

Womanist

Womanist theology is a religious movement which reconsiders the traditions, practices, scriptures, and theologies with a special lens to empower and liberate African women in United States....
(as opposed to feminist) attitudes. A strong believer in the inbred power of the woman, Walker depicts her title character as an innately tough, powerful person, though not one without problems as well. In fact, Walker argues that personal struggles are an unavoidable part of life and that it is the way that one overcomes their obstacles that defines their character. Meridian frequently turns to previous examples of strong female role models when in doubt about her own inner strength.