Day 18- Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston is known around the world as an outstanding writer. Many of her stories depicted African American life in the South. Zora was born on January 15, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama. She earned her associate degree from Howard University. A few years after she received a scholarship to Barnard College in which she received a BA in Anthropology.  Following graduation, she joined the Black cultural renaissance happening in Harlem. 

Zora is revolutionary because she devoted her life to studying Black culture but her work was not recognized initially in mainstream media. Yet she still persevered, she continued to conduct research which was woven into her fictional writing. She was often underpaid although her stories eventually received recognition in the African American community. 

Zora Neale Hurston is known for Their Eyes Were Watching God, and her work with Langston Hughes. She was passionate about educating others about the importance of the arts. She established a school of dramatic arts at Bethune-Cookman College in 1934. I am grateful for Zora Neale Hurston for her ability to tell our stories. Through the school of dramatic arts she was able to develop African Americans students to become passionate about dramatic arts.