Final answer:
Zora Neale Hurston was an influential African-American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, whose novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' reflects her upbringing in Eatonville, Florida. She utilized her background, education, and role within the Harlem Renaissance to create works that focused on racial identity, self-discovery, and empowerment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zora Neale Hurston was a renowned author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, famously known for her contributions to literature and for her portrayal of African-American life in the South. Most notably, her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God was published in 1937 and has become a seminal work in American and African-American literature. The novel is a reflection of Hurston's own experiences, drawing heavily from her upbringing in Eatonville, Florida, which was one of the first all-black towns in the United States.
Hurston's works often explore themes of racial identity and pride without being overtly political. Her characters find strength and empowerment through self-discovery and personal growth. One such character, Janie Crawford, evolves from a young girl dependent on men to a self-actualized woman who commands her own destiny and expresses her sexuality freely. Hurston's personal history, including her early life in Eatonville, her education at Howard University and Barnard College, and her role in the Harlem Renaissance, all deeply influenced her writing and anthropological work.