Internationally celebrated author and activist Alice Walker will deliver the annual Zora Neale Hurston Lecture, presented by the University of Michigan Department of Afroamerican and African Studies and the U-M Center for the Education of Women.

The talk will take place 5:30-7 p.m. Nov. 5 at Hill Auditorium.

The Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award-winning author of “The Color Purple” will explore social justice issues from her unique womanist and black feminist perspective, reflecting on the complementary missions of DAAS and CEW.

Walker’s work focuses on the role of women of color in history, culture and society. She is the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in fiction, though — in her opinion — not the first African-American woman to deserve it.

The lecture honors Hurston, the most prolific African-American woman writer of her time. She brought to life the power, richness and complexity of black cultures for many readers.

The lecture will be the closing of a series of events throughout 2014 marking the 50th anniversary of CEW.

The event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at bit.ly/1yguv4I. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

Additional funding provided by the CEW Frances and Sydney Lewis Visiting Leaders Fund, and premier CEW anniversary sponsor TIAA-CREF.