Hurston, Zora Neale

Zora Neale Hurston. (1891–1960) was an African American writer, anthropologist, and folklorist, best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937). A key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston’s work celebrated Black culture, dialect, and folklore, offering rich portrayals of African American life in the rural South. Though largely overlooked during her lifetime, her literary contributions gained renewed recognition in the late 20th century, thanks in part to efforts by author Alice Walker and the Black feminist literary movement.

Early Life and Education

Hurston was born in Alabama, but moved as a child to Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black incorporated towns in the U.S. Eatonville later became a central setting in her works, symbolizing Black self-governance and cultural pride.

In 1917, she attended Morgan Academy (now Morgan State University) and later Howard University, a historically Black institution. She eventually transferred to Barnard College, where she studied anthropology under renowned scholar Franz Boas and became one of the first Black women to graduate from the college in 1928.

Anthropology and Folklore

Hurston’s background in anthropology deeply influenced her writing. She conducted ethnographic fieldwork in the American South, the Caribbean, and Haiti, documenting Black oral traditions, folk tales, and religious practices. Her research resulted in works such as:

• Mules and Men (1935) – A collection of African American folklore from the South.
• Tell My Horse (1938) – A study of Vodou and cultural traditions in Haiti and Jamaica.

Literary Career

Hurston was a leading voice of the Harlem Renaissance, blending her anthropological insights with fiction to craft authentic and vibrant portrayals of Black life. Her writing often explored themes of racial identity, gender, and self-expression.

Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)

Her most famous novel follows Janie Crawford, a Black woman on a journey of self-discovery through love and hardship. Initially criticized, particularly by male Harlem Renaissance writers such as Richard Wright, for its use of Black vernacular and focus on personal rather than political struggles, the novel was later hailed as a feminist and literary masterpiece.

Other Notable Works

• Jonah’s Gourd Vine (1934) – A semi-autobiographical novel about a charismatic Black preacher.
• Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939) – A retelling of the biblical Moses story with African American and folklore influences.
• Seraph on the Suwanee (1948) – A departure from her usual themes, focusing on white characters in the South.

Later Life and Rediscovery

Despite her literary success, Hurston struggled financially later in life, working as a maid and librarian. She died in poverty in 1960 and was buried in an unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida.

In the 1970s, Alice Walker and other scholars revived interest in her work, leading to the re-publication of Their Eyes Were Watching God and cementing Hurston’s status as a major literary figure.

Legacy

Hurston is now celebrated as a pioneering Black woman writer whose work bridges literature, anthropology, and folklore. Her influence extends to contemporary writers, scholars, and activists exploring themes of race, gender, and cultural heritage.

See Also

• Women in literature
• Harlem Renaissance
• Their Eyes Were Watching God
• Alice Walker
• African American folklore