Walker, Alice: *1944

The Color Purple, 1982 - Thematic Parallels: Racism

Racism is a belief that groups people into “races” and treats some races as superior or inferior to others.
Walker, Alice: The Color Purple, 1982
The novel explores the struggles, resilience, and empowerment of Black women in the American South during the early 20th century.
The following books are thematically simliar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Danticat, Edwidge: Breath, Eyes, Memory, 1994, ~230pp
  This novel tackles themes of racism, identity, and social struggle relevant to African American or broader Black experiences, comparable to the racial themes in "The Color Purple."
  - Both novels show that trauma is inherited—but can be broken. They explore how survivors struggle with shame, silence, sexuality, and self-worth, but eventually reclaim their bodies and identities. Both novels end on hopeful notes, centering women who survive and redefine themselves.
- Lee, Harper: To Kill a Mockingbird, 1960, ~300pp
  This novel explores racial prejudice and moral growth in the American South, aligning with the themes of racism and the African-American experience depicted in “The Color Purple."
  - Both novels argue that laws and social rules protect the powerful and harm the marginalized. They critique traditional gender expectations and reveal how these expectations limit women’s lives. Violence is shown not as isolated acts but as products of social systems (racism, sexism, classism).
- Paton, Alan: Cry, the Beloved Country, 1948, ~250pp
  This novel deals with racial injustice and social issues in South Africa, exploring apartheid and racism.
  - Both novels portray societies deeply structured by racial hierarchy, showing how injustice affects everyday life and shapes generations. Each novel is framed around a transformative quest for identity, dignity, and inner strength.
- Wright, Richard: Native Son, 1940, ~400pp
  This is a novel concerned with racism and systemic oppression of Black Americans.
  - Both novels explore racial oppression, depict personal stories shaped by systemic injustice, critique American society, and use suffering and self-discovery to drive their narratives. Where "Native Son" tends toward tragedy and anger, "The Color Purple" tends toward healing and transformation—yet the roots of their themes are deeply connected.
List of general discussion questions on Racism (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Racism (pdf)