Books
Celebrating the life of Zora Neale Hurston
Author Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) at a book fair, New York, New York, circa 1937. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
There aren’t enough words to explain what Zora Neale Hurston has done for me and other Black writers and her influence and force will never go unnoticed or unappreciated. 129 years of Zora influences and I’m still learning and in awe of her. Reading about her life is bittersweet because of how she died and knowing she didn’t receive the praise and proper credit she deserved until after she died.
I love books that use AAVE and center Black women and Hurston laid the groundwork for the Black southern woman experience. When people say Black Americans lack culture, I point them to Hurston because she dedicated her life to illustrating our culture through words and traditions passed down by our ancestors who arrived here during slavery.
Elizabeth Van Dyke in “Zora Neale Hurston” by Laurence Holder. Photo by Martha Swope.
When she died, Alice Walker bought her a headstone. Hurston had chronic illnesses and was in a home when she died.
Zora will never be forgotten. Happy birthday, forever and ever.
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- Happy birthday, Zora!
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- She documented Black American southern culture
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- She was the first to praise AAVE
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- Elizabeth Van Dyke in “Zora Neale Hurston” by Laurence Holder. Photo by Martha Swope.
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- Author Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) at a book fair, New York, New York, circa 1937. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
Spread the word:
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Author Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) at a book fair, New York, New York, circa 1937. (Photo by PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
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Elizabeth Van Dyke in "Zora Neale Hurston" by Laurence Holder. Photo by Martha Swope.
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She was the first to praise AAVE
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Happy birthday, Zora!
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She documented Black American southern culture
