Tracy Chapman, the legendary singer-songwriter who rose to fame in the late 1980s with her socially conscious folk-rock hits, has always been a private person who shunned the spotlight and the media attention.
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But now, a new book by author and journalist Evelyn C. White has revealed the details of Chapman’s secret love affair with Alice Walker, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Color Purple, and how their relationship influenced both of their careers and lives.
The book, titled Alice Walker: A Life, is based on extensive interviews with Walker, her friends, family, and colleagues, as well as archival research and personal correspondence. It chronicles Walker’s journey from a poor, segregated childhood in rural Georgia to becoming one of the most influential and celebrated writers of her generation.
One of the most surprising revelations in the book is that Walker and Chapman had a romantic relationship that lasted from 1990 to 1995, during which they lived together in California and traveled the world. The book claims that Walker was the one who pursued Chapman, who was 16 years younger than her, and that they had a passionate and intense bond that inspired some of their best work.
According to the book, Walker dedicated her 1992 novel Possessing the Secret of Joy, which deals with the issue of female genital mutilation, to Chapman, while Chapman wrote the song The Promise, which appears on her 1995 album New Beginning, for Walker.
The book also reveals that Walker and Chapman faced challenges and pressures from their families, friends, and the public, who did not understand or accept their relationship. Walker’s daughter, Rebecca, who is also a writer and activist, was reportedly estranged from her mother for years because of her disapproval of Chapman. Walker’s ex-husband, Mel Leventhal, a civil rights lawyer, also criticized Walker for leaving him for a woman.
The book also suggests that Chapman’s decision to retreat from the limelight and release music sporadically was partly influenced by her desire to protect her privacy and her relationship with Walker. Chapman, who has won four Grammy Awards and sold over 20 million albums worldwide, has not released a new album since 2008’s Our Bright Future, and has rarely performed live or given interviews.
The book also explores the reasons why Walker and Chapman eventually broke up, citing their different personalities, lifestyles, and goals. Walker, who is now 80 years old, has continued to write and speak out on various social and political issues, while Chapman, who is 64, has preferred to live a quiet and simple life away from the public eye.
The book, which is set to be published on February 14, 2024, by HarperCollins, has already generated a lot of buzz and controversy, as it offers a rare glimpse into the personal lives of two iconic and influential women who have shaped the cultural landscape of the past three decades.
