Ever Heard of Zora Neale Hurston

January 30, 2012

As we all know, February is Black History Month. I don't want to highlight all the usual African-Americans that we usually hear about at this time of year. Instead, I decided to talk about Zora Neale Hurston.
 
Zora was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and novelist born in Notasulga, Alabama on January 7, 1891. She spent most of her young life in Eatonville, Florida, just 5 miles from Orlando. As a child, she was very smart and curious. She was always wondering how and why things happened.

Zora did most of her writing during the Harlem Renaissance time period. She published her first short story, John Redding Goes to Sea, in 1921 at the age of 30. In 1930, she worked with Langston Hughes on Mule Bone. Her first novel, Jonah's Gourd Vine, was published in 1934. Her most famous book was Their Eyes Were Watching God. This was published in 1937 and is still a popular book club book.
 
Zora was an inspiration to other African-American writers such as Alice Walker and Toni Morrison.
 
She suffered a stroke in 1959 and died the following year in a county welfare home in Florida. Zora was one of the great African-American writers of the 20th century, and it was only after her death that she was really recognized for the role she played in shaping modern American literature.
 
You can find many books about her and ones that she wrote in the MCPL system.
 
Alberta S.
North Oak Branch