Zora Neale Hurston

Championed African-American folklore and feminism through groundbreaking literary works

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960) was a pioneering writer, anthropologist, and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Her unapologetic celebration of Black culture and dialect in works like Their Eyes Were Watching God challenged prevailing stereotypes and reshaped American literature.

Hurston’s anthropological research, funded by grants and collaborations with institutions like Columbia University, documented Southern Black folklore. Her 1935 book Mules and Men preserved oral traditions, spirituals, and hoodoo practices, ensuring their survival for future generations. This work laid the foundation for ethnographic fiction, blending academic rigor with storytelling.

Despite facing criticism from contemporaries for her refusal to conform to political agendas, Hurston’s novels centered Black women’s agency and complexity. Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), now a literary classic, follows Janie Crawford’s journey to self-discovery, defying racial and gender oppression. Hurston’s use of dialect was revolutionary, asserting the validity of African-American Vernacular English as a literary tool.

Hurston’s later years were marked by financial struggles, but her legacy was revived in the 1970s by writers like Alice Walker. Today, she is celebrated for her fearless voice and contributions to preserving cultural heritage. Her work inspires discussions on intersectionality, identity, and the power of storytelling.