The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way
The National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple explores our modern world with “compassion, courage, and humor” (Booklist).
 
Alice Walker once ached for retirement, but in the turmoil of the Democratic primaries and the economic collapse of 2008, she realized she simply had a great deal more to say. Leaving her meditation cushion behind, she found herself traveling the world once again to speak of our intertwined personal, spiritual, and political destinies through ruminations, poems, essays, and letters.
 
At the height of her literary powers, this revered American novelist, poet, essayist, and activist invites readers on a journey of political awakening and spiritual insight. While visiting subjects she has addressed throughout her career—including racism, Africa, Palestinian solidarity, and Cuba—as well as addressing emergent issues, such as the presidency of Barack Obama and health care, Walker explores her conflicting impulses to retreat into inner contemplation and to remain deeply engaged with the world.
 
Rich with humor and wisdom, and informed by Walker’s unique eye for the details of human and natural experience, The Cushion in the Road is “a heartfelt response to a new generation’s yearning for public service” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
“Walker’s concern for the state of humanity and the planet comes through as impassioned and genuine.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Quintessential Alice Walker: edgy, demanding, prayerful, loving, and aware. An essential companion for those who wish to be a force for positive change in our perpetually challenging world.” —ForeWord Magazine
 
“Infused with a quiet grace and gentle resolve to act responsibly.” —Kirkus Reviews
1112492232
The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way
The National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple explores our modern world with “compassion, courage, and humor” (Booklist).
 
Alice Walker once ached for retirement, but in the turmoil of the Democratic primaries and the economic collapse of 2008, she realized she simply had a great deal more to say. Leaving her meditation cushion behind, she found herself traveling the world once again to speak of our intertwined personal, spiritual, and political destinies through ruminations, poems, essays, and letters.
 
At the height of her literary powers, this revered American novelist, poet, essayist, and activist invites readers on a journey of political awakening and spiritual insight. While visiting subjects she has addressed throughout her career—including racism, Africa, Palestinian solidarity, and Cuba—as well as addressing emergent issues, such as the presidency of Barack Obama and health care, Walker explores her conflicting impulses to retreat into inner contemplation and to remain deeply engaged with the world.
 
Rich with humor and wisdom, and informed by Walker’s unique eye for the details of human and natural experience, The Cushion in the Road is “a heartfelt response to a new generation’s yearning for public service” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
“Walker’s concern for the state of humanity and the planet comes through as impassioned and genuine.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Quintessential Alice Walker: edgy, demanding, prayerful, loving, and aware. An essential companion for those who wish to be a force for positive change in our perpetually challenging world.” —ForeWord Magazine
 
“Infused with a quiet grace and gentle resolve to act responsibly.” —Kirkus Reviews
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The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way

The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way

by Alice Walker
The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way

The Cushion in the Road: Meditation and Wandering as the Whole World Awakens to Being in Harm's Way

by Alice Walker

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Overview

The National Book Award– and Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Color Purple explores our modern world with “compassion, courage, and humor” (Booklist).
 
Alice Walker once ached for retirement, but in the turmoil of the Democratic primaries and the economic collapse of 2008, she realized she simply had a great deal more to say. Leaving her meditation cushion behind, she found herself traveling the world once again to speak of our intertwined personal, spiritual, and political destinies through ruminations, poems, essays, and letters.
 
At the height of her literary powers, this revered American novelist, poet, essayist, and activist invites readers on a journey of political awakening and spiritual insight. While visiting subjects she has addressed throughout her career—including racism, Africa, Palestinian solidarity, and Cuba—as well as addressing emergent issues, such as the presidency of Barack Obama and health care, Walker explores her conflicting impulses to retreat into inner contemplation and to remain deeply engaged with the world.
 
Rich with humor and wisdom, and informed by Walker’s unique eye for the details of human and natural experience, The Cushion in the Road is “a heartfelt response to a new generation’s yearning for public service” (Kirkus Reviews).
 
“Walker’s concern for the state of humanity and the planet comes through as impassioned and genuine.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Quintessential Alice Walker: edgy, demanding, prayerful, loving, and aware. An essential companion for those who wish to be a force for positive change in our perpetually challenging world.” —ForeWord Magazine
 
“Infused with a quiet grace and gentle resolve to act responsibly.” —Kirkus Reviews

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Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781595588869
Publisher: New Press, The
Publication date: 04/09/2013
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 336
File size: 667 KB

About the Author

About The Author
Alice Walker (b. 1944), one of the United States’ preeminent writers, is an award-winning author of novels, stories, essays, and poetry. In 1983, Walker became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction with her novel The Color Purple, which also won the National Book Award. Her other novels include The Third Life of Grange Copeland, Meridian, The Temple of My Familiar, and Possessing the Secret of Joy. In her public life, Walker has worked to address problems of injustice, inequality, and poverty as an activist, teacher, and public intellectual.
Alice Walker (b. 1944), one of the United States’ preeminent writers, is an award-winning author of novels, stories, essays, and poetry. In 1983, Walker became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction with her novel The Color Purple, which also won the National Book Award. Her other novels include The Third Life of Grange Copeland, Meridian, The Temple of My Familiar, and Possessing the Secret of Joy. In her public life, Walker has worked to address problems of injustice, inequality, and poverty as an activist, teacher, and public intellectual.

Hometown:

Mendocino, California

Date of Birth:

February 9, 1944

Place of Birth:

Eatonton, Georgia

Education:

B.A., Sarah Lawrence College, 1965; attended Spelman College, 1961-63

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xiii

Introduction 1

Witness: On Barack Obama

Lest We Forget: An Open Letter to My Sisters Who Are Brave 7

What I Want: Compassion as a Value 13

May Whatever We Have Gained, Not Be Lost 17

Finally It Is Here: Election Day 20

Dear Brother President (Elect) 22

What Do I Expect from This Turn of the Historical Wheel 25

A Letter to President Obama About Torture 28

Understanding Health Care 34

Well Done-Obama and the Nobel Prize 36

For What It's Worth: Some Thoughts on War, Disappointment, and Anger 37

Why War is Never a Good Idea 43

The Road of Life

Human Sunrise 47

Introducing the Ojibwa Warrior 56

A Wedding Ceremony: Marrying Good Men 63

Coming to Mississippi 69

Saying Good-bye to My Friend Howard Zinn 72

On The Help 78

Honoring Cicely Tyson 82

We Are in This Place for a Reason 86

Listening to Howie: The Optimism of Uncertainty 91

MEDITATION: The Settled Mind

Milagros de la Vida Turtles 98

Facing La Madre 100

Giving, as Generously as the Earth 102

Seeking Counsel from Diego and Frida 104

Hitting the Mark 106

The Victory Belongs to Love: So What About Marriage? 109

The Clarity 112

Overwhelm 114

Queen Snows 116

All the Stars 119

The Killing of Troy Davis 121

The G in "Ode to Joy" 123

Frozen River Is a Moving Surprise 125

May I Be Frank 126

¡Nadie te Quita lo Bailado! 128

Loving Audiobooks but Not the Segregation of Books and Literature 129

At Sea on the Audacity of Hope 132

Stubborn Flowers Climbing 134

Windows: Discovering Uri Avnery 136

Reclaiming the Cross 138

"This is What You Shall Do"

A Recipe for Difficult Times: Anxiety Soup 146

Everyone's a Victim 151

Sisterloss 154

We Are Remembered for What We Teach 160

Edwidge Danticat, the Quiet Stream 164

More Meditation Required! 166

"We Believe" by Staughton and Alice Lynd 169

The Inner Listener 172

From Grandmother's Horse 175

Free Dogs and the Albany Bulb Waterfront Park 178

Ending the Age of Waste 180

The Case of Bradley Manning 185

Evolution 189

Bursting into Love 192

Life Lessons: Gratitude Is My Only Prayer 194

WANDERING

The Universe Belongs to Everyone 199

12 Questions: Korean Women's Soul Questions 205

Adopting an Orphanage 221

Coming to See You Since I Was Five Years Old: An American Poet's Connection to the South African Soul 224

St. John: The Lennonono Grant for Peace Ceremony 238

About Aung San Suu Kyi, Meditator and Teacher 242

SOLIDARITY: Letters

A Letter from Alice Walker to Aung San Suu Kyi 249

A Letter About Nature From 2005 260

An Open Letter to Nawal El Saadawi 263

To Whom It May Concern: With Special Attention to the Prime Minister, Attorney General, and Speaker of the Knesset in Israel 266

On Palestine

We Can Offer What We Are 271

Boycotts Must Happen in the Heart 272

"You Will Have No Protection" 277

What Changes the World? Bearing Witness to the Truth 281

Nothing Is Stronger Than a Circle 286

The Peace of Nonviolent Resistance 296

Auntie, I Simply Can't Imagine It! 298

And So Our Trails Continue 312

Overcoming Speechlessness 314

Empathy Is a Wave 343

To the Freedom Riders of Palestine 346

The Sanity of Friendship 348

Onward

Encountering the Unknown Brazil 355

Permissions 363

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