Zora Neale Hurston

Start Free Trial

Zora Neale Hurston Biography

Like so many writers, Zora Neale Hurston was ahead of her time and not fully appreciated by her contemporaries, but she is now considered one of the most important African American women of the twentieth century. Her most famous work is the 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. One of its key (but controversial) features was the use of dialogue in an African American dialect. Though some critics at the time, including many from the African American community, viewed the novel’s dialogue as caricatured, it would become a celebrated trademark of Hurston’s writing. Her uncompromising novels later influenced seminal African American writers such as Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Alice Walker.

Facts and Trivia

  • Eatonville, Florida, where Hurston grew up, was an all-black incorporated town, which her father was elected mayor of in 1897.
  • John Hurston and Lucy Ann Potts, Hurston's parents, were both former slaves.
  • After her mother's death, Hurston's father and stepmother sent her to boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida, but eventually stopped paying the tuition, and Hurston was expelled.
  • Although highly regarded as a literary figure, Hurston originally studied anthropology, receiving a bachelor’s degree in that field from Barnard College.
  • Hurston was one of many artists who contributed to a period known as the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural flourishing of literature, art, and music by and about African Americans.
  • Despite the leftist leanings of fellow Renaissance members like Langston Hughes, Hurston was ardently conservative.
  • Hurston did not believe that integration was a positive step for black culture, fearing that it would be diluted (if not eliminated) by its absorption into white society.
  • Hurston was buried in an unmarked grave. Although Alice Walker later placed a gravestone over where some believe Hurston was buried, the exact location of her final resting place remains unknown.
  • Though her work is celebrated today, Hurston, due to medical and financial problems, died in a county welfare home.

Biography

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

Zora Neale Hurston, a vibrant figure of the Harlem Renaissance and an influential voice in African-American literature, was born in Eatonville, Florida. Her birth year is disputed, with records ranging from 1891 to 1903, though her headstone marks it as 1901. As the seventh of eight children to John and Lucy Hurston, Zora's upbringing in Eatonville—a town devoid of racial barriers and rich in cultural heritage—profoundly shaped her literary pursuits.

Early Life and Education

Leaving behind her initial job as a wardrobe assistant in Florida, Hurston ventured into acting with a light-opera troupe, eventually making her way to Baltimore. Driven by a fervor for education, she enrolled at Morgan Academy in 1917 and later progressed to Howard University. It was here, in 1921, that her first story appeared in the university's literary magazine, signaling the start of her prolific writing career.

Anthropological Pursuits

From 1925 to 1927, Hurston studied anthropology at Barnard College in New York City, during which she worked closely with the esteemed Dr. Frank Boas at Columbia University. In 1927, she returned to her roots in Florida to delve into the local folklore of Eatonville. Her work, "The Eatonville Anthology," published in 1926, encapsulated the oral traditions and cultural narratives of her hometown, reflecting her dual passion for anthropology and storytelling.

Personal Life and Literary Innovations

Hurston's personal life was marked by two brief marriages: first to Herbert Sheen, a fellow anthropology student, in 1927, and later to Albert Prince III in 1939. Both unions ultimately dissolved as Hurston prioritized her literary ambitions and valued her independence over marital ties. Her bold literary style, especially her use of authentic African-American dialects, was a testament to her willingness to challenge conventions and her desire to depict African-American life truthfully.

Significant Literary Works

In her debut novel, Jonah's Gourd Vine (1934), Hurston wove together elements of "Negro folklore" with biblical motifs. Following this, Mules and Men featured an array of folktales, deemed "lies" by the storytellers, yet rich with social and philosophical undertones. Critics often laud Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) as her magnum opus, a novel that continues to resonate for its profound exploration of identity and empowerment. Additionally, Hurston collaborated with Langston Hughes on Mule-Bone, a play that celebrated African-American culture.

Later Years and Legacy

Despite her early success, Hurston faced declining recognition by the mid-1940s. Her final years were marred by financial difficulties and health issues, culminating in her death on January 28, 1960, at a welfare home in Florida. A decade passed before writer Alice Walker journeyed to mark Hurston's grave with a proper headstone, ensuring her contributions would not be forgotten. Walker's efforts helped cement Hurston's legacy, with the inscription "Zora Neale Hurston: A Genius of the South" honoring her enduring impact as a novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Next

Critical Essays

Loading...