The Looking Glass presents the second part of weekly articles featuring incredible Black figures in history to celebrate Black History Month. For this week, learn more about the brilliant and bold writer, anthropologist, and activist Zora Neale Hurston. Perhaps some of you know her fantastic works of literature like Their Eyes Were Watching God or some of her short stories such as John Redding Goes to Sea. Here’s a peek into the life of the fantastic writer of these tales!

The legend Zora Neale Hurston, like many, started with humble beginnings. The town of Eatonville, the first all-Black governed town in America, was a community that acted more like an extended family. In this town, Zora Neale Hurston grew up. She grew up falling in love with African American folktales and storytelling, grew up surrounded by strong Black figures, and grew up untainted by the illness of racism. Her pride in her race— her Blackness— never faltered due to her upbringing. Her town and childhood proved to be one of the pillars that built her up to be the Zora Neale Hurston who spread her stories of Eatonville in an unfiltered and honest presentation of African American culture to a budding America.

Hurston’s view of being Black did not fall into the description of a burden or unfortunate circumstance, despite the environment she lived in after moving away from Eatonville. To Hurston, to duck down or hunch over because of her race went against her nature. Rather, she viewed the world as a force of nature that only rewards the strong and those who desire to take hold of it without lamenting their disadvantages. She said in her book How It Feels to be Colored Me: “But I am not tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all.”

Hurston was able to achieve success through her writings, displaying her anthropological knowledge of African American customs and traditions for all Americans. As a writer, Zora utilized an interesting type of writing style: free indirect discourse. This style employed standard English writing mixed with informal Black vernacular exemplified with the dialogue and thoughts of her characters. Like in Their Eyes Were Watching God: “Love is lak de sea. It’s uh movin’ thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.” For those who have yet to read this book or hit 11th grade— you’re in for a real treat! Such a unique style of writing was met with some condemnation from other members of the Black literati, who claimed that exposing such African American dialogue was equivalent to insulting African American intelligence in the face of standard English literature. Zora Neale Hurston meant no such mockery. In bringing to life such dialogue, Hurston displays admiration and respect for her culture and family. 

Zora Neale Hurston was the most prolific female African-American writer of her time. Her affinity for anthropology spurred the collection of folklore allowing her to spread the knowledge of African American customs. Her self-confidence in her identity gave her the strength and pride, as a Black woman in the early 1900s, with plenty of folktales and stories to tell, to speak the truth and become a prominent figure in the Harlem renaissance. Zora’s loyalty to her identity prepared her to have such a unique presence wherever she went, to own a distinct writing style, to present the African American culture (in an unfiltered and honest fashion), and to share African American customs with the rest of America.

Jenn Uche ’22, Creative Writing Editor

22juche@montroseschool.org