A 1992 article in Ms. magazine, "Becoming the Third Wave," provided the catalyst for Rebecca Walker to be recognized as a defining voice of a new era in American feminism. Declaring "I am the Third Wave," she shifted the discourse surrounding gender, power, and racial politics, moving away from previous definitions toward a multifaceted understanding of intersectional identity.
Early Development and Education
Born in 1969 in Jackson, Mississippi, she is the daughter of writer Alice Walker and civil rights lawyer Melvyn R. Leventhal. Following her parents' divorce in 1976, she split her upbringing between the Bronx in New York City and San Francisco. She attended The Urban School of San Francisco before enrolling at Yale University, graduating cum laude in 1992. At age 15, she formally adopted her mother’s surname.
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Upon graduating from Yale, she co-founded the Third Wave Fund alongside Shannon Liss-Riordan. Designed to bridge gaps in leadership among young people, the organization successfully registered over 20,000 voters during its initial year. Reorganized as The Third Wave Foundation in 1997, the group provides ongoing resources for young women of color, as well as queer, intersex, and trans individuals.
Literary and Professional Career
Walker’s writing career encompasses memoirs, essays, and fiction. Her editorial debut, "To be Real: Telling the Truth and Changing the Face of Feminism," appeared in 1996. Subsequent works include the 2000 memoir "Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self," which examines her experience as a mixed-race woman, and "Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After A Lifetime of Ambivalence," released in 2007. Her first novel, "Adé: A Love Story," was published in 2013.
Public Engagement and Media
She has maintained a presence as a commentator on racial and social justice at numerous academic institutions, including Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. Her insights have appeared in The Washington Post, Essence, and Salon, while her media appearances include CNN, MTV, and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In 1994, Time magazine selected her as one of the 50 future leaders of America.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Jackson, United States
- Education: The Urban School of San Francisco, Yale University
- Key Term Coined: Third Wave Feminism
- Major Memoirs: Black, White, and Jewish; Baby Love
- First Novel: Adé: A Love Story (2013)
- Awards: BBC 100 Women (2016)
- Significant Recognition: Time magazine 50 future leaders of America (1994)
Questions readers ask
What is the Third Wave Foundation?
It is an organization that provides tools, resources, and grants to young women of color, queer, intersex, and trans individuals to foster leadership.
What subjects does Rebecca Walker address in her writing and speaking?
Her work focuses on gender, race, politics, multicultural identity, enlightened masculinity, and social justice.
