Margaret Walker (1915 - 1998) was an American poet and writer. She was part of the African-American literary movement in Chicago. Her notable works include the award-winning poem For My People and the novel Jubilee, set in the South during the American Civil War. This book is considered notable in African-American literature and Walker is an influential figure for younger authors. Walker became a literature professor at what is today Jackson State University, a historically 'Black' college, where she taught from 1949 to 1979. In 1968, Walker founded the Institute for the study of History Life, and Culture of Black People (now the Margaret Walker Center).