Final answer:
Zora Neale Hurston's stance on racial pride and self-reliance influenced her reputation and how she was treated, particularly by white people. Her opposition to communism and her critical views on government intervention stemmed from her fierce individualism, which was reflected in her work during the Harlem Renaissance. Her contributions remain significant in discussions of race and identity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Zora Neale Hurston's fearless nature and outspoken views on self-reliance and racial pride certainly influenced her interactions with both African Americans and white Americans, as well as the perception of her by white people. Her stance on issues like Brown v. Board of Education, which she opposed despite her dislike for Jim Crow laws, was based on her belief that such rulings dismissed the quality of Black schools and, by extension, the Black community. Hurston's anti-communism and criticism of government welfare programs stemmed from a deep commitment to individualism and self-determination, concepts also echoed by Black conservatives during the 1950s and 1960s.
As an essential figure of the Harlem Renaissance, Hurston's literary work celebrated the empowerment stemming from personal journeys and African-American culture. In her famed novel 'Their Eyes Were Watching God' and her other writings, she highlighted the strength of the individual spirit. Hurston's views and writings, while sometimes controversial, contributed significantly to discussions of race, self-determination, and Black identity in the United States.