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Born July 7, 1915, in Birmingham, AL
Died November 30, 1998, in Chicago, IL
Margaret Walker Alexander published her first book of poetry, For My People, in 1942 and the historical novel Jubilee in 1966. She earned master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Iowa for these creative classics. Her poem “For My People” has become one of the literary anthems of the Black community. After four decades of teaching, she retired as Emeritus Professor of English at Jackson State University. Walker received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 1989.