Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston is regarded as one of the most astute modernist writers of the 20th century. During the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston’s writings transcended her peers while on a quest to be known as just a writer, without emphasis on race or gender. Making a conscious decision to not engage on such topics, Hurston receive criticism from her peers insinuating that she was not doing enough to help her generation. Due to this criticism and pressure, Hurston responds with a somewhat autobiographical essay entitled “How It Feels to be Colored Me”. By illustrating the damaging effect that repetitively using race as a crutch, instead of being liberated by differences, Hurston’s essay captures a strong sense of individual identity, reflects cultural identity, and rejects racial injustices. The Harlem Renaissance was an era that exposed the world to a multitude of artist,…

Zora Neale Hurston is one of the finest authors of twentieth-century African-American literature. Hurston’s words have surpassed the decade in which she released them, the decades into which she tried to mold her style, self, and stories, and her work will continue to make an impact on the generations to come. Hurston's novels and short stories of folklore resulted from her anthropological research and are important sources on the oral cultures of African-Americans (“Zora Neale…

population in 1980 and actually made up more than 90 percent of the city’s population. Zora Neale Hurston’s writing is both a reflection of and a departure from the ideas of the Harlem Renaissance as represented in Janie’s self-discovery, self-acceptance and changing independence in rural black communities within Florida during the 1920s and 30s. Mrs. Turner in Zora Neale Hurston’s novel reflects the general relationship between black and white people during the Harlem…

Zora Neale Hurston, a author and a Civil Rights activist was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama. Hurston created several works of fiction. She was the fifth of eight children born to John and Lucy Potts Hurston. She was also an folklorist and anthropologist who worked diligently to record the stories and tales of many cultures, including her own African-American heritage. As a leader in the Harlem Renaissance Hurston was a revolutionary in helping to protect the rights of African…

Feeling like an outcast in society while being categorized in a group is assumed to make one feel lesser. Stereotyping and categorizing those who do not fit into society’s norms can impose a sense of bitterness for any differences people may have. Nancy Mairs and Zora Neale Hurston both were considered alien by their society because of their different aspects. Special aspects which differed these women from society both belittled and empowered them. Although society attempted to make these…

colors. Zora Neale Hurston, a black writer of the early 1900’s, addresses the experiences (good and bad) that people of color face throughout her work—greatly influencing writers to come. Hurston’s individualism all through her career inspires people to think freely and resist distasteful external influences in order to learn to love…

With an official birthdate somewhat in question (most references place it on January 7, while one other lists it as being eight days later) Zora Neale Hurston lived an interesting, and successful, at least literarily, if not monetarily, life. Born in Alabama, to a couple of former slaves, she, however, always considered Eatonville, Florida, where she moved as a young child, as her hometown. Her idyllic and happy childhood found her surrounded by examples of African American successfulness,…

This story by Zora Neale Hurston is about a young woman named Janie Crawford who is trying to find self-independence and real love. She finds herself in three marriages where she learns a lot about love. Each marriage Janie were in was all different and they all taught her different things. Janie married Logan Killicks, Joe Starks and then Vergible Woods. The following events that reflected Janie’s emotional, spiritual and physical growth were represented by her three husbands. First, Janie…

Response Paper #2: Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston is considered by some as a woman little worth noting and by others, as one of the most influential writers in the Harlem Renaissance era. Her whimsical and fictional novels have touched many readers and explore themes such as racism, sexism, poverty, and empowerment. In Norton’s Anthology of African American Literature, Hurston’s background sets up for her later success as an author and for the excerpt of “How it Feels to be Colored Me”.…

Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston the main character Janie Crawford experiences many trials and tribulations during her life due to letting people control her. She’s gotten married 3 times and is a widow . When Janie gets married to Tea Cake and finally starts to control her own life, her decisions are not the best because she has no sense of direction and leadership. Janie’s tolerance for people dictating her life caused her to be confined , but marrying Tea Cake made her feel freedom…