[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 18 (Tuesday, February 2, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DR. MARGARET WALKER-ALEXANDER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 2, 1999

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today to pay tribute to the 
late Dr. Margaret Walker-Alexander. Dr. Walker-Alexander was a world 
renowned author and poet who resided in the Second Congressional 
District of Mississippi. Dr. Walker-Alexander was best known for 
``Jubilee,'' her 1966 novel about slave life. Dr. Walker-Alexander died 
on November 30th, 1998 in Jackson, Mississippi of cancer at the age of 
eighty-three.
  Apart from ``Jubilee,'' Dr. Walker-Alexander has written more than 
four volumes of poetry. Among some of her most noted works are: 
``Prophets For A New Day,'' ``October Journey,'' ``How I Wrote 
Jubilee,'' and co-authored with Nikki Giovanni, ``Poetic Educations: 
Conversation Between Nikki Giovanni and Margaret Walker Alexander.''
  Dr. Margaret Walker-Alexander was born on July 7, 1915, in 
Birmingham, Alabama. At the age of fifteen, she published her first 
poem, ``I Want to Write,'' which appeared in the 1934 edition of Crisis 
Magazine, then edited by W.E.B. DuBois. After high school, Dr. Walker-
Alexander enrolled in Northwestern University and the University of 
Iowa where she received her M.A. and Ph.D. respectively. In 1943, she 
married Firnist James Alexander. From this union were born two sons and 
two daughters.
  In 1949, the Alexanders moved to Jackson, Mississippi where she 
remained until her death. Dr. Walker-Alexander became a positive role 
model in the community. She taught at Jackson State University where 
she served as an inspiration to young Mississippians. Throughout her 
life, Dr. Walker-Alexander received numerous honors and awards for her 
outstanding literary works includes the Yale University Award for 
Younger Poets, 1942; Rosenwald Fellowship, 1944; Ford Fellowship at 
Yale University, 1953-54; and an honorary doctoral degree in literature 
from Tougaloo College.
  In closing Mr. Speaker, I want to salute Dr. Margaret Walker-
Alexander for her outstanding work in our literary world. Her works 
will remain with us for years to come to pass down to the next 
generation to enjoy her stories and learn from them.

                          ____________________