Analyzing

Abstract

The aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement caused a great increase in the black feminism movement and made way to a new genre, black feminist literature. There have been many popular names that have made it their life’s goal to speak out about the injustices against black women and separating womanism from feminism. Alice Walker is a prolific writer who spoke out about some of these issues in her writing, using fiction to help people of all races and genders understand the struggle of black women in American and inspire people to let go of their prejudices. Walker’s short story collection In Love and Trouble: Stories of Black Women contains one very poignant story called “The Welcome Table” which revolves around an elderly black woman getting kicked out of a white church in the midst of a harsh winter and subsequently dying. She desires for acceptance by society. The story is filled with symbolism that describes her prolonged suffering. Alice Walker’s womanist work was a pivotal aspect of African-American literature. This research aims to analyze the short story “The Welcome Table” using a womanist reading to reveal the importance of the womanist movement and how it defers from feminism.