Alice Walker Won't Allow Hebrew Translation Of 'The Color Purple'

HuffPost Books

Alice Walker knew that her refusal to allow an Israeli company to publish an edition of "The Color Purple" would lead to controversy.

Indeed, that was presumably her aim - to bring attention to what she sees as unjust and illegal treatment of the Palestinian people.

We are very strongly against banning books in any circumstances, yet when an author refuses to allow their books to circulate in a territory, it's a more complex issue.

If Walker does nothing, then she misses an opportunity to speak out about a situation she feels strongly about. If she blocks publication, as she has in this situation, then the Israeli public is denied the opportunity to read a powerful story about the impact of discrimination and segregation.

Perhaps Walker could find another way - deny the publisher, thus gaining the publicity she seeks, but also allow a free digital edition of "The Color Purple," translated into Hebrew, to circulate, maybe featuring a new introduction in which she makes explicit connections between the book and the present Israeli situation.

Digital distribution could offer a new medium not only for reading, but for intelligent protest and debate.