Alice Walker looks at the oppression women had to endure by the men who are often portrayed as heroes in historical novels. However, the intent of the novel is not look at the representation of men as abusers and violent people, though many of the male characters that are introduced to the reader are abusive in one way or another to Celie, rather it looks at women overcoming the oppression from the men who are seen as heroic. As an active member of American Civil Rights movement, Walker likely drew inspiration from these events including racism found among white people and black people and even internalized racism, sexism and internalised sexism, "I think bout this when Harpo ast me what he ought to do to her to make her mind. I don't mention