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Zora Neale Hurston. Photo from http://www.browsebiography.com/bio-zora_neale_hurston.html. Zora was born on 7 January 1903 in Eatonville, Florida. Zora was one of eight children born to Lucy Ann Potts, a country schoolteacher, and John Hurston, a carpenter & Baptist preacher .
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Zora Neale Hurston Photo from http://www.browsebiography.com/bio-zora_neale_hurston.html
Zora was born on 7 January 1903 in Eatonville, Florida Zora was one of eight children born to Lucy Ann Potts, a country schoolteacher, and John Hurston, a carpenter & Baptist preacher “Zora Neale Hurston.” Biographical Essay. Gale. 2 December 2010.<http://galenet.galegroup.com>.
Zora had a difficult life at a young age. Her mother died when she was just a small child. Zora’s father and new step-mother didn’t want her so she was passed from relative to relative. When she was just fourteen years old, she left Eatonville. She worked as a maid for whites to support herself. She always wanted to complete her education so she enrolled in Baltimore high school, Morgan Academy. “Zora Neale Hurston.” Biographical Essay. Gale. 2 December 2010.<http://galenet.galegroup.com>.
Zora Continues her Education Despite her hardships, Zora perseveres attending Howard University in New York as English major. She received praise and recognition for her short stories and poems. http://www.howard.edu/library/reference/Guides/Hurston/default.htm
Zora arrived in New York at the time of the Renaissance, which was a black literary and culture movement in the 1920’s. Many famous black writers were among Zora’s contemporaries, including Langston Hughes. Charles Johnson founded “Opportunity” a journal of black life. Zora became a contributing writer to this publication. http://www.bet.com/OnTV/BETShows/harlemheights/harlemheights_photos_harlem.htm?i=7
Zora later graduated from Barnard College, and by 1935 had become an accomplished writer. In 1937 she published perhaps her greatest work, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Library of congress
Zora was a vibrant, colorful personality full of laughter Zora Hurston, half-length portrait, standing, facing slightly left, beating the hountar, or mama drum
Writer Zora Neale Hurston sings and dances with children in Eatonville, Florida, June 1935. http://www.stetsonkennedy.com/npr_folklife.htm
Unfortunately, Zora wasn’t paid well for her writings and finding herself penniless, she returned to Eatonville, Florida. Below is one of the last known photos of Zora – pictured center. Hurston died January 28, 1960. http://libguides.santarosa.edu/content.php?pid=46378&sid=591606
In 1942 Hurston published her biography, Dust Tracks on the Road. It was in that same year that she was profiled in “Who’s Who in America.” http://www.noonewatching.com/archives/2006/12/woman_making_history_47_zora_n.html
Zora left behind a great number of literary works that have finally received the recognition the well deserved. Her epitaph below, reminds us of the great artist she was. "ZORA NEALE HURSTON / `A GENIUS OF THE SOUTH' 1901 - 1960 NOVELIST, FOLKLORIST / ANTHROPOLOGIST."
Works Cited Hemenway, Robert. Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980. Print “Zora Neale Hurston.” Biographical Essay. Gale. 2 December 2010. <http://galenet.galegroup.com>.