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Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space
Zora Neale Hurston was an African American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker who was born in Notasulga, Alabama, on January 7, 1891. Her parents were John Hurston, a Baptist preacher, and Lucy Ann Potts Hurston, a former schoolteacher. After her mother's death, Hurston moved to Eatonville, Florida, with her father, a town that would later become the setting for much of her work. Hurston's writing reflects her deep connection to the Black experience in America, especially in the rural South.
The three pieces of writing chosen for this essay are Hurston's novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," her essay "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," and her autobiography "Dust Tracks on a Road."
"Their Eyes Were Watching God" tells the story of Janie Crawford, an African American woman living in Florida during the early 20th century, who is searching for love and self-fulfillment. The novel explores themes of self-discovery, gender roles, and the African American experience in the South. Hurston's own experiences growing up in Eatonville, a predominantly Black town, and her training as an anthropologist influenced the novel's portrayal of Black culture and dialect.
In her essay "How It Feels to Be Colored Me," Hurston reflects on her own experiences of being a Black woman in America. She recounts her childhood in Eatonville, where she felt a sense of belonging and community, but also her experiences of racism and discrimination outside of her town. The essay also explores the idea of identity and how it is shaped by one's experiences and environment.
Finally, "Dust Tracks on a Road" is Hurston's autobiography, which explores her life growing up in the rural South, her education, and her career as an author and anthropologist. The book provides insight into Hurston's personal experiences and how they shaped her writing and perspective on Black culture.
Overall, Hurston's life experiences as a Black woman growing up in the rural South heavily influenced her writing. Her background in anthropology and her own experiences of racism and discrimination informed her portrayal of Black culture in her work. Her personal experiences also shaped her understanding of identity and influenced her exploration of this theme in her writing. Through her work, Hurston claimed a space for herself and for the African American experience in American literature.