Author Biography
By Hannah Lund
Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama. Her parents were John and Lucy Hurston and Zora was the fifth of eight children. When she was a young girl, Zora and her family moved to Eatonville, Florida which was the oldest black town in America. This is significant because in “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” the setting partially takes place in Eatonville, which is where Janie lives with her husband Joe. Zora’s father was the mayor of Eatonville, just as Janie’s husband is also the mayor in the novel. Since the author lived in Eatonville, it is very significant that part of the setting takes place there also and it contributes to the overall plot of the story.
Growing up during a time of racism, Hurston reflects this through Janie as she is not treated equally. At the age of thirteen, her mother passed away. Zora once said, “Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground” (Hurston). In her early adult years, Zora Neale Hurston attended Morgan Academy in Baltimore to get a high school diploma. Then she went on to get an associate degree from Howard University in 1920. In 1921, Hurston published her first story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” Next she went to Barnard College, where she was offered a scholarship in anthropology. Hurston was an active member in the Harlem Renaissance movement. She went on to write many books and short stories. She wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in 1937.
Throughout her career, Zora did not address racism, but rather had a different worldview than many people at the time. For example, she believed segregation was acceptable during the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Hurston was very poor during her last years and died of heart disease on January 28, 1960. Zora Neale Hurston was a very influential writer during the 1900’s and still enlightens people with her brilliant writings.
By Hannah Lund
Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama. Her parents were John and Lucy Hurston and Zora was the fifth of eight children. When she was a young girl, Zora and her family moved to Eatonville, Florida which was the oldest black town in America. This is significant because in “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” the setting partially takes place in Eatonville, which is where Janie lives with her husband Joe. Zora’s father was the mayor of Eatonville, just as Janie’s husband is also the mayor in the novel. Since the author lived in Eatonville, it is very significant that part of the setting takes place there also and it contributes to the overall plot of the story.
Growing up during a time of racism, Hurston reflects this through Janie as she is not treated equally. At the age of thirteen, her mother passed away. Zora once said, “Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to ‘jump at de sun.’ We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground” (Hurston). In her early adult years, Zora Neale Hurston attended Morgan Academy in Baltimore to get a high school diploma. Then she went on to get an associate degree from Howard University in 1920. In 1921, Hurston published her first story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” Next she went to Barnard College, where she was offered a scholarship in anthropology. Hurston was an active member in the Harlem Renaissance movement. She went on to write many books and short stories. She wrote “Their Eyes Were Watching God” in 1937.
Throughout her career, Zora did not address racism, but rather had a different worldview than many people at the time. For example, she believed segregation was acceptable during the Brown vs. Board of Education case. Hurston was very poor during her last years and died of heart disease on January 28, 1960. Zora Neale Hurston was a very influential writer during the 1900’s and still enlightens people with her brilliant writings.