Item
Agent
Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)
- Summary Label
- Prominent author and playwright in the Civil Rights movement.
- Title
- Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)
- Date of Birth
- 1891
- Date of Death
- 01/28/1860
- gender
- Female
- Hometown or Region
- Gainesville, Florida
- Freedom Status
- Free
- Occupation
- Anthropologist, Author & Playwright
- Biography
- Hurston was born in 1891 to John and Lucy Hurston in a small town in Alabama by the name of Notasulga. In her lifetime Hurston has been revolutionary with her literature and research in telling the authentic stories of black people throughout the Southern United States as well as the Caribbean. She has been influential in various movements, but is most recognized for her contributions to the Harlem Renaissance. During this time her career was launched with the production of a number of short stories and plays. Hurston has left an extensive legacy for her literature. For example, her most notable novel being “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is the story of fictional character, Janie Crawford, as she travels throughout the south in search of finding love. Some of her other works include ethnographic novels like “Mules and Men” and “Tell my Horse”. During her various travels, Hurston came across many different interesting historical figures. Including but not limited to: Alain Locke, Langston Hughes, Cudjo Lewis, and Franz Boas. All of these people were very crucial in helping her succeed. Whether it be Locke and Boas giving her direction or Hughes and Lewis giving her material for her writing. However, she never really received the deserved credit while she was alive. This resulted in her having to pick up odd jobs towards the later stages of her life in random cities simply to keep food on the table. Sadly, she would pass away in 1960 in a welfare home in Fort Pierce, Florida.
- See Zora Neale Hurston Map
- Connected Historical Actor(s)
-
Alain Locke (Father of the Harlem Renaissance)
Langston Hughes, Oluale Kossola (A.K.A. Cudjo Lewis), & Franz Boas (Father of Anthropology)
- Student Researcher
- Darryl Williams