IN Focus: Zora Neale Hurston (Jan. 7, 1891 – Jan. 28, 1960)
Zora Neale Hurston was a groundbreaking author, anthropologist, and folklorist who captured the voices of Black Americans through fiction and fieldwork. Born in 1891 in Eatonville, Florida—the first all-Black incorporated town in the U.S.—Hurston became a central figure in the Harlem Renaissance and used her platform to amplify Southern Black traditions, speech, and spirituality.
Perhaps most remarkably, Hurston was one of the first Black women to conduct formal interviews with formerly enslaved people under the Federal Writers’ Project in the 1930s. Her anthropological work preserved oral histories that would have otherwise been lost. Her writing, from novels like Their Eyes Were Watching God to anthropological texts like Barracoon, blurs the line between art and archive.
Honor the Legacy. Wear the Story. Grab the "Zora Neale Hurston is INerasable" t-shirt from our Legacy Collection—honor history and celebrate resilience.
INerasable: Zora Neale Hurston's Legacy
She made sure we would never be erased. Hurston knew that capturing Black life on its own terms—without translation for white audiences—was revolutionary. Her legacy is a reminder that literature and folklore are powerful forms of truth-telling.
To omit Hurston is to forget the sound of our ancestors’ voices. She is the bridge between memory and myth, and her pen turned lives into legacy. Zora Neale Hurston is INerasable because she refused to let Black stories be forgotten.
Art IN Context: Rooted Rhythm in Folk Art
Zora Neale Hurston is rendered in a rich, earth-toned folk art style—honoring her dedication to the lives and language of ordinary Black people. The hand-crafted, textured feel reflects the patchwork of traditions she preserved: storytelling, music, oral history, and everyday brilliance.
This art style connects Hurston’s work to a broader tradition of communal creativity—quilting, spirituals, sermons, and porch tales—turning her into both documentarian and muse. Her portrait speaks: every line echoes a story she once saved.
IN Depth: Resources to Lean More
Books & Articles
- Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
A literary classic of the Harlem Renaissance, this novel follows Janie Crawford’s journey to self-discovery and independence.
➤ https://www.harpercollins.com/products/their-eyes-were-watching-god-zora-neale-hurston - Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" – Zora Neale Hurston
Based on interviews with Cudjo Lewis, one of the last known survivors of the transatlantic slave trade.
➤ https://www.harpercollins.com/products/barracoon-zora-neale-hurston - Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston – Valerie Boyd
A definitive biography chronicling Hurston’s life, scholarship, literary achievements, and cultural legacy.
➤ https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/18558/wrapped-in-rainbows-by-valerie-boyd/
Archives
- Zora Neale Hurston Papers – Library of Congress
Digitized collection of manuscripts, letters, and unpublished works.
➤ https://www.loc.gov/item/mm78022156/ - University of Florida Digital Collections – Zora Neale Hurston Collection
Contains rare materials including field notes, photographs, and ethnographic work.
➤ https://ufdc.ufl.edu/znh
Multimedia
- Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun – PBS American Masters
An Emmy-nominated documentary exploring her life and impact.
➤ https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/zora-neale-hurston-about-the-author/721/ - Discovering Zora Neale Hurston – National Portrait Gallery (YouTube)
A compelling visual overview of her contributions to literature and anthropology.
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw_8nlc73fI - Zora Neale Hurston: Her Story, Her Voice – Biography.com (YouTube)
Concise documentary segment with narration and visuals—great for classrooms.
➤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUm2DQeBko4
Exploring Art Styles (Folk Art)
- The Art Story – Folk Art Movement
Explores the core elements of folk art and its importance in telling community-based stories.
➤ https://www.theartstory.org/movement/folk-art/ - Smithsonian American Art Museum – Folk & Self-Taught Art
Highlights works rooted in vernacular traditions, including African American folk expression.
➤ https://americanart.si.edu/art/highlights/folk - NMAAHC – African American Folk Art
A curated collection of Black folk artists whose work reflects cultural identity and community values.
➤ https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/collection/african-american-folk-art
IN Story. IN Spirit. INerasable.
