Zora Neale Hurston was an anthropologist and award-winning writer during the early- to mid-20th century. She is well known for her ethnographic studies of African-American folk culture and for her novels, short stories and essays. Her works offer vivid portraits of southern African-American life, particularly in the town of Eatonville, Florida. Hurston is often particularly remembered for her commitment to learning and her passion for the art of literature, which is reflected in her pioneering and groundbreaking work.
Early Life and Education
Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama on January 7th, 1891. She was the fifth of eight children born to John Hurston, a Baptist preacher, and Lucy Ann Hurston, who, like her daughter, had a passion for literature. The family moved to Eatonville, Florida when she was young, and Hurston’s childhood experiences were often reflected in her later works.
At the age of seventeen, Hurston worked and saved enough money to attend Howard University. She was awarded a scholarship and did exceptionally well, earning a degree in 1920. Hurston then pursued her interest in literature and anthropology, earning a master’s degree in anthropology from Barnard College in 1928.
Career in Anthropology
Hurston began her career in anthropology shortly after receiving her master’s degree. As part of the ethnographic research project of the Works Progress Administration, she studied African-American folklore, interviews and performances. She was most active in the South, particularly in Florida, and the Caribbean. Hurston’s research for the project provided the content for her book, Mules and Men.
Hurston also went on to work with prominent anthropologist Franz Boas on other projects. Much of her work focused on the development of southern African-American dialects. Hurston continued conducting research and teaching at North Carolina College for Negroes (now North Carolina Central University) and Spellman College in Atlanta.
Writing Career
In addition to her scientific studies, Hurston was also an accomplished and highly-respected writer. She wrote four novels, two plays, an autobiography and innumerable essays and short stories. Hurston’s books combined elements of fiction and folklore, drawing on the various cultures and experiences of her own life. Her first novel, Jonah’s Gourd Vine, was published in 1934, and was later followed by several others. She was also the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in Fiction in 1938. Her appreciation of art, music, language and community shine through her works.
Significance
Zora Neale Hurston was a trailblazer in many ways, as demonstrated by her work in anthropology as well as literature. Her research in African-American folklore and culture served as an important record of the lives of her contemporaries and made a lasting contribution to contemporary understanding of black culture and heritage. In addition, her books furthered the genre of the southern African-American novel and the field of anthropology more broadly.
Hurston was also committed to lifting up the African-American experience, both through her academic writings on folklore and through her fiction, which highlighted in vivid detail the joys and struggles of African-American citizens. Ultimately, Hurston is remembered for her pioneering work as an anthropologist and writer, as well as her unswerving commitment to the arts and culture.
Zora Neale Hurston stands as a powerful figure in American history. She was a groundbreaking anthropologist who studied folklore and culture, and a highly-esteemed author of novels, plays, essays and short stories. Hurston’s works offered vivid glimpses into the African-American experience, particularly in the south. She made important contributions to the field of anthropology, as well as to the understanding of folklore, culture and African-American heritage. Hurston was an artist and a scholar, and her work resonates not only in literature, but also in the hearts and minds of many readers. To this day, she remains a highly influential author and scholar whose legacy lives on.
