Alice Walker was interviewed by Gayle King on CBS Morning, here's what she said about her romance with Tracy :
Gayle King: What does love mean to you?
Alice Walker: "I've discovered I was not a lesbian, I’m someone who actually loves everybody, men and women. And it’s just the most wonderful thing. It means that when you are open to life, there's endless possibilities of love and it's something that actually grows in your own heart"
Gayle King: One of the great loves of your life is Tracy Chapman. From the moment you saw her you thought what?Because there seemed to be an instant attraction ?
Alice Walker: It was her voice. You know, there are some voices in our culture that can carry the whole culture and really make an emotional sense of it and liberate you into a deep love of that.”
Gayle King: I like how you described the beginning of the relationship, you said it was the first kiss that lasted 2 weeks
Alice Walker: Well I think love can be that way you know, that you kiss someone for the first time that you've been dreaming about and longing for and the kiss goes on forever, two weeks, two years.
Gayle King: And ultimately the relationship it wasn't a long relationship but it was a very solid and important relationship in your life. Did you talk with her about including your relationship with her in your book?
Alice Walker: Not at all because we're not really talking
Gayle King: After a love so deep?
Alice Walker: Yes that happens though.
Gayle King: Are you worried about how she'll receive this?
Alice Walker: Not especially
Gayle King: Why?
Alice Walker: Because it's my life, it's my life
Gayle King: I'm like, ok Alice, what if I didn't want people to know I was dating Alice Walker?
Alice Walker: If she didn't want people to know, we should not have dated. We should not have
