Alice Walker is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and activist. She is best known for her 1982 novel The Color Purple, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. Walker's work has focused on the struggles of African-American women, particularly those living in the Southern United States. She has written several other novels, short stories, and essays, and has also published several volumes of poetry. Walker is an advocate for human rights and has been involved in various social justice causes, including the anti-apartheid movement and the fight for LGBT rights. She is a recipient of numerous awards, including the National Humanities Medal and the Lillian Smith Award. Walker continues to be an influential voice in literature and activism.