Zora Neale Hurston is considered to be one of the most
significant and influential black woman writers of the Harlem Renaissance. She was known for her vibrant,
original, passionate, and enthusiastic personality In her 30-year career, she published numerous short
stories, several essays, articles and plays, four novels, two books of
folklore, and an autobiography. (“About Zora Neale Hurston”)
Zora was born on January 7, 1891 as the fifth of eight
children. She lived a comfortable
childhood growing up in the nation’s first all-black town of Eatonville,
FL. At only thirteen years old,
Zora lost her mother, which forced her grow up quickly. “’That hour began my wanderings,’ she later wrote. ‘Not
so much in geography, but in time. Then not so much in time as in spirit’”
(“About Zora Neale Hurston”). Zora
didn’t get along with the young, new wife that her father married and
soon left her family to live with relatives. All of these changes forced her to drop out of high school
but didn’t hinder her strong spirit. (“About Zora Neale Hurston”)
After traveling around and working multiple jobs, she
finally faked her age, from 26 to 16, in order to finish her high school
education at Morgan Academy in Baltimore.
She went on to attend Howard University from 1919 to 1924 where she
received her associate degree.
Later, she attended Barnard College to study anthropology. Here she did many pieces and got her Bachelor
of Arts degree in 1928. From this
point on, Hurston went on various trips to immerse herself in different
cultures. She greatly explored the
relations between blacks and whites of these times and this was a key theme in
her writing. (“Hurston Biography”)
Many say that Hurston’s success didn’t match her hard
work and talent. Her first published story was in her college magazine in 1921,
and her work steadily continued from there. In 1925 she won two second-place awards in Opportunity’s literary contest for the
story “Spunk” and play Color Struck. Her popularity grew with her
autobiography in 1942. Awards were
basically all Hurston was awarded with though, and the most royalty she ever
earned from one of her pieces was $943.75. Hurston’s popularity has grown more after her passing on
January 28, 1960. Those who knew
her would suspect that the legacy she has left behind, and the impact she is
still making, is worth more than any praise or money she could have received in
her lifetime. (“About Zora Neale Hurston”)
Sources
“About Zora
Neale Hurston.” Zora Neale Hurston. The Estate of Zora Neale Hurston,
2014. Web. 6 May 2014.
“Hurston Biography.” Kansas Heritage. George Laughead, 2010. Web. 7 May 2014.
Written by: Kailey Mayry
Written by: Kailey Mayry
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