Author Bio

Zora Neale Hurston grew up in a black township in Eatonville. As a child, she was witness to black excellence and achievement: as a result, unlike many black children, Hurston did not grow up with a feeling of inferiority. She and her siblings were encouraged by her mother to realize their grandest dreams. However, the tragedy of losing her mother at 13 coupled with the absence of a caring father meant she was forced to take up menial jobs and struggled to finish high school. However, Hurston managed to obtain free public education by claiming to be ten years younger than she was. A newcomer to the scene with no connections, her resourcefulness and humor made her a party favorite and an important voice during the Harlem Renaissance.

Before publishing Their Eyes Were Watching God in 1937, Hurston published a well-acclaimed book on southern folklore and some short stories. This was after her graduation from Barnard College. In addition to plays and novels, she continued to publish critical nonfiction as well, the most popular being her anthropological work on Caribbean voodoo practices. Even though her works brought her fame, she was unable to support herself with the money generated from book sales alone. After her death, due to the lack of funds, she had to be buried under an unmarked grave. It was the legendary writer and scholar Alice Walker who, inspired by the legacy of Hurston, found the segregated cemetery where Hurston was buried and marked one of the graves she intuitively felt was Hurston’s with a new tombstone.

Hurston worked closely with several influential figures of Harlem Renaissance, including a collaboration with Langston Hughes on an unfinished play titled Mule Bone: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts. She was a strong feminist and individualist, and these traits are amply reflected in her works.