Mules and Men | Historical Background

Zora Neale Hurston had, and maintained, an interest in folktales since her early childhood. When she was a child, she would recreate the stories (or “lies”) she had overheard from others with her dolls. Later she made up her own characters and created tales in a similar vein. It is clear that these memories imparted onto her a strong sense of her roots, and her field research reflects a desire to record these tales as part of her culture. In Mules and Men she states that she wants to record this folklore “before everybody forgets.” This urgency reflects the times, since...

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