The theme of equality for African American women in their communities are similar themes for Paule Marshall and Alice Walker. They both connect with the women of the past and these identities that they connect with. Both women's identification is tied to their exposure to African American culture throughout their lives. Walker states that: We must therefore step outside of ourselves and look at and identify with our lives the living creativity that some of our great-grandmothers could not have known. I highlight some of them because it is known that most of our great-grandmothers knew, without even "knowing", the reality of their own spirituality, even if they did not recognize it beyond what happened in church songs (Walker, 1996: 2318- 2319). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Alice Walker believes it is important to identify with the subconscious and spirituality of African American women. Alice Walker expresses spirituality and creative culture through her writings which have become a bridge connecting the gap between African American women of the past and their search for self-expression. Even though he had the opportunity and freedom to write, he could identify with the racism his ancestors faced. She is connected to the trials and tribulations that African American women were subjected to and this is how she identifies with the ancestors of African American women. She defines a creative spirit as an expression of African American women through everyday things like songs and making quilts, “Everyday Use” because these were an expression of art for African American ancestors and could not be taken from them. The identification of Paule Marshall's African American ancestor comes from her mother and her mother's friends. Her essays identify with the African American tradition her mother expressed. She describes the kitchen environment in “Poets in The Kitchen” that she was exposed to as a child and the strong self-expression is an art form in keeping the African tradition alive was an integral part of their lives. (Marshall, 1996: 1948) Marshall's felt independence comes through the "spoken word", which was the ultimate expression of art and a sense of power because during his mother's era women were powerless and expressed themselves in their kitchens. These conversations taught Marshall his first lesson in the art of storytelling. He states, "They have trained my ear. They set a standard of excellence. That is why I credit them with my best work; it is a testament to the rich heritage of language and culture they have passed on to me so freely in the word shop of the kitchen" ( Marshall, 1996: 1952). Alice Walker's essay, "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens" and Paule Marshall, "Poets in The Kitchen" focus on African American women of the past and how these women influenced their writings. These women inspired both to become African American writers using different mediums of expression, Alice Walker expressing independence through creative spirit and Paule Marshall through the word to celebrate the lives of these women. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper now from our expert writers. Get a Custom Essay In conclusion, both African American writers express the importance of identity, independence, and inspiration. They connected with their ancestors and found a common identity and found them as inspiration for their writings. Both have many similarities and differences, but they aim to inspire women and tell their stories.