Zora Neale Hurston
- Born:
- January 7, 1891 (disputed), Notasulga, Alabama, U.S.
- Died:
- January 28, 1960, Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
- Nationality:
- American
- Profession(s):
- Author, Anthropologist, Filmmaker
Early Life and Education
- Grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-black towns in the United States.
- Attended Howard University, where she co-founded the student newspaper, The Hilltop.
- Earned a B.A. in Anthropology from Barnard College, Columbia University, studying under Franz Boas.
Career and Major Achievements
- Key figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
- Conducted extensive anthropological research on African American folklore and culture in the American South and the Caribbean.
- Wrote extensively on Black culture, attempting to capture and preserve the unique vernacular and traditions.
- Her autobiography, Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston, provides insight into her life and worldview.
Notable Works
- Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937)
- Mules and Men (1935)
- Tell My Horse (1938)
- Jonah's Gourd Vine (1934)
- Dust Tracks on a Road (1942)
Legacy and Impact
Zora Neale Hurston's work significantly contributed to the preservation and understanding of African American folklore and culture. Her novels and anthropological studies have had a lasting impact on American literature and cultural studies, influencing generations of writers and scholars. Her legacy continues to grow as her work is rediscovered and reinterpreted.