Great Girls; Zora Neale Hurston

Great Girls is series in which we meet inspiring women from ever era, culture and walk of life. This month we're meeting...

Author, activist and atomic energy of the Harlem Renaissance Zora Neale Hurston.

Zora grew up in the first all-black town in America, of which her father, a former slave, was mayor. This position, on the safe inside of African American culture looking out at the chaotic and caustic outside, together with the jarring juxtaposition of her father's identity granted her great insight into the human condition and black culture; Zora would go on to gain a masters in Anthropology in 1928.

Zora Neale Hurston. Inspiring quotes for women

Much of her career was occupied with documenting, promoting and celebrating black traditions. She travelled all over the Americas studying music, religions, dance, folklore and dialects. At a time when almost the entire population would rather ignore black heritage Zora revelled in it. She depicted black people in a way that had not been seen before - as utterly autonomous from white people, she refused to see them as degraded, as victims, as struggling heroes, as defeated. This determination to adhere to the challenges of her race brought much criticism during her life, perhaps it is why her work didn't receive the recognition it deserved until after her death.

This all sounds rather lofty and beyond what a white girl living in the suburbs with no strife could relate to, no? No! Zora's best known book Their Eyes Were Watching God is marvellous, the kind of book that keeps shouting life advice at you when the cover is closed. It is wise, courageous, romantic and a testament to the strength of womanhood. If you are female this is book is required reading. If you are human this book is suggested reading. Thank you Zora!

 

 

 

 

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