Two very prominent authors of the Harlem Renaissance were Claude McKay and Zora Neale Hurston. The main difference between the two is the genre they wrote; while they both focused on African American images and issues in relation to their own experiences, McKay was a poet whereas Hurston preferred to write folklore stories. Claude McKay focused on the duality of the feelings of African Americans, whereas Zora Neale Hurston focused more on societal pressures and how this impacted blacks
Claude McKay was born and raised in Jamaica but migrated to the United States in later years. He discusses his home country and upbringing in some of his works, but he mostly wrote about what it was like to be black in the United States. He was a key poet in …show more content…
Hurston had to start working at a young age. However, she was able to complete her education as she attended Howard then Barnard University. In the early1920s, Hurston wrote many short stories for her school newspaper. She then began winning prizes and was able to publish her work. Hurston seemed to make good impressions on people, as she had many benefactors, mentors, patrons help her further her career and education. One of her mentors Franz Boas, was an anthropologist and one of Hurston’s professors. “Boas recognized Hurston's storytelling ability and deep interest in the black culture of the South. He urged her to do more research there” (Tillotson). Hurston was intrigued by the folklore tales of the African American people. “Zora Neale Hurston spent nearly two years studying the folkloric customs, work songs, spirituals, and vernacular language of African American communities along the River Road and from New Orleans to Florida” (Koss). Hurston helped keep her heritage alive, she was passionate in her research and it shows in her writing. “She became intrigued by hoodoo and traveled to New Orleans to see how it was practiced and study the life of the priestess, Marie Leveau. Hoodoo appealed to Hurston, because women were allowed to play a prominent role in its rituals.”(Lillios). Even when following all her different passions and interests, Hurston always seemed to find time to write. She followed her interests
Claude McKay was born and raised in Jamaica but migrated to the United States in later years. He discusses his home country and upbringing in some of his works, but he mostly wrote about what it was like to be black in the United States. He was a key poet in …show more content…
Hurston had to start working at a young age. However, she was able to complete her education as she attended Howard then Barnard University. In the early1920s, Hurston wrote many short stories for her school newspaper. She then began winning prizes and was able to publish her work. Hurston seemed to make good impressions on people, as she had many benefactors, mentors, patrons help her further her career and education. One of her mentors Franz Boas, was an anthropologist and one of Hurston’s professors. “Boas recognized Hurston's storytelling ability and deep interest in the black culture of the South. He urged her to do more research there” (Tillotson). Hurston was intrigued by the folklore tales of the African American people. “Zora Neale Hurston spent nearly two years studying the folkloric customs, work songs, spirituals, and vernacular language of African American communities along the River Road and from New Orleans to Florida” (Koss). Hurston helped keep her heritage alive, she was passionate in her research and it shows in her writing. “She became intrigued by hoodoo and traveled to New Orleans to see how it was practiced and study the life of the priestess, Marie Leveau. Hoodoo appealed to Hurston, because women were allowed to play a prominent role in its rituals.”(Lillios). Even when following all her different passions and interests, Hurston always seemed to find time to write. She followed her interests