“Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can anyone deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It’s beyond me.”
Zora Neale Hurston, born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, was a trailblazing writer, anthropologist, and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. She grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black towns in the United States, which greatly influenced her storytelling and pride in Black culture. Hurston’s childhood experiences in this supportive Black community nurtured her love for language, folklore, and storytelling, forming the foundation of her future work. She attended Howard University and later received a scholarship to Barnard College, where she studied anthropology under renowned scholar Franz Boas. This academic training enriched her literary career, as Hurston combined her anthropological knowledge with her vivid storytelling, creating a unique voice that celebrated the richness of African American culture and folklore.
Hurston is best known for her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), which follows the journey of Janie Crawford, a Black woman in the South seeking her own identity and autonomy. This novel, now a classic, was initially met with criticism but has since become a cornerstone of African American literature for its powerful portrayal of Black womanhood and resilience. Throughout her career, Hurston was committed to documenting African American life, especially in the rural South, capturing dialects, folk traditions, and everyday experiences with unmatched authenticity and care.
In addition to her literary contributions, Hurston conducted anthropological fieldwork across the Southern U.S., Jamaica, and Haiti, where she studied voodoo practices, folklore, and cultural traditions. Her work often challenged stereotypes about Black life and sought to highlight the complexity and beauty of African American culture. Despite her contributions, Hurston struggled with financial difficulties and fell into obscurity later in life. She passed away in 1960, largely forgotten by the literary world. In the 1970s, Alice Walker and other scholars resurrected her legacy, celebrating Hurston’s impact on American literature. Today, she is revered as a pioneering voice whose work continues to inspire and affirm Black identity and experience.
“Sometimes, I feel discriminated against, but it does not make me angry. It merely astonishes me. How can anyone deny themselves the pleasure of my company? It’s beyond me.”
