Books by Jamie Walker

101 Ways Black Women Can Learn to Love Themselves: A Gift for Women of All Ages  (2002) /  Signifyin’ Me: New and Selected Poems (2005)

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Meet the New Generation of Civil Rights Leaders

By Alanna Miller

Jamie Walker boycotts with her chapters, marches with her sentences, and riots with her words.

"Do not be afraid of the spoken word, queen. For the use of the word and oral tradition is indigenous to our people, our culture," Walker writes in 101 Ways Black Women Can Learn to Love Themselves.

Walker, 26, published her first book this year which is part autobiography and part black feminist manifesto for the new millennium. Walker is the face of the next generation’s black feminist leaders.

"Jamie Walker is truly one of our future leaders. We will hear more from Ms. Walker and the world is a better place for her being part of it," said Janet Sims-Wood, a supervisor at the Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, where Walker worked purchasing books. The Moorland-Springarn Research Center is one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive centers for the documentation of the history and culture of people of African descent.

Walker grew up in a single parent household in Oakland, California, surviving a childhood of poverty and abuse, which she shared in her book. She went to San Francisco State University, studying drama and black studies. After graduating magna cum laude, Walker acted in numerous plays with the San Francisco Mime Troupe and the African-American Shakespeare Company, as well as some independent films.

Walker became depressed though and moved to the East Coast and Howard University to get her master’s in African-American and Caribbean Literature. Currently, she is pursuing her doctorate at Howard University.

"I’ve never, ever in my life felt so bad," said Walker. "But out of the depression came the light."

The depression was further fueled by a falling out with her mentor, who in her book she only refers to as Olivia, to protect her privacy. The falling out was over Walker moving to Howard University.

Walker’s book was inspired by the depression and learning how to love herself again. She began writing it when she was 21 and finished the book last year.

"The book is about resistance, self-love, and power," Walker said.

All the criticism for the book has been positive thus far and the book has gotten considerable attention. Surprising, since the book was self-published by Walker’s JD Publishing Group.

"What best characterizes Jamie’s writing is a straightforwardness and an ability to get to the point," said D. Kamili Anderson, director of the Howard University Press, where Walker works in the marketing department.

"Jamie is a wonderful and talented person. I’m impressed by her insight as well as her warmth," said Yanick Rice Lamb, the former senior-editor of Heart and Soul magazine and BET Weekend. "She is a giving person who is progressive, community-minded, and sisterly."

The book has been picked up by numerous book clubs and literary publications, such as Black Book News. The notoriety has led to negotiations for a two-book deal with Simon and Schuster Inc., including a re-release of this book.

Walker is somewhat taken aback by the success of her debut publication: "It’s just now taking off."

Walker says she has gotten e-mails and letters from women, especially rape and abuse victims, around the world, including Italy and Australia, telling her how the book touched them.

"I think all women can find some insightful message in Jamie’s writings. I am very proud of her writing," Sims-Woods said.

Walker participates in traditional political activity, protesting the war in Iraq and for affirmative action, most recently. She is also a member of the Black Writer’s Guild of Maryland, which encourages young people to read and aids current black writers.

"One of the great things about Jamie is her appreciation of her past and our rich history," Lamb said. "She is also the first class of students in the Visionary Heritage Program to chronicle the contributions of our elders."

Walker’s elder in the program is Esther Cooper Jackson, one of the founders of Freedomways magazine, with W.E.B. DuBois and his wife. The magazine featured the writings of some of the most prominent civil rights leaders, such as Martin Luther King Jr.

"I think that the activism is fueled by my writing and my writing is fueled by activism," Walker said.

Walker is now working a "coming of age" novel that is partly autobiographical, "The Black Writers’ Guide to Getting Published and Marketing Your Books," and a collection of work and criticism of Sonia Sanchez with a forward written by acclaimed black author, Maya Angelou. Sanchez is a poet and a female leader in black writing. Sanchez taught one of the first black studies classes.

"It really has impressed me that so young a woman has such wisdom," Anderson said. "She has such patience with her peers [especially] with a lot of black women living in denial."

"I’m expecting great things from Jamie. She’s given us just a taste of what’s in store." Lamb said.

"I wanted to raise the consciousness level of the folk," Walker said. "[I wanted black women to know] she is a queen and a gift."

Source: http://www.inform.umd.edu/studentorg/unwind/features032003-21.html 5/10/03