Final answer:
Zora Neale Hurston, an influential Harlem Renaissance author and anthropologist, wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God in 1937. The novel is esteemed for exploring themes of racial pride and self-reliance and is an early example of African-American feminist literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zora Neale Hurston is the Harlem Renaissance author who wrote the 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. As an author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, Hurston captured the essence of African-American life in the early 20th century American South, contributing to the rich tapestry of the Harlem Renaissance. Her works, including her most popular novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, are celebrated for their portrayal of racial pride, African-American culture, and particularly for the self-reliant characters that emerged from their own self-discoveries.
Though Hurston's work was not overtly political, she did address themes of racial pride and the internal resources of African Americans. Their Eyes Were Watching God is especially recognized as an early feminist work among African-American literature, influencing later writers like Alice Walker. Despite her prolific output and crucial role in establishing African-American literary presence, Hurston died in relative obscurity in 1960.