Zora Neale Hurston
 How
does knowing the
historical context of a literary
work help us better
understand the text?
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“HR” - period from the end of WWI through the
middle of the 1930s Depression
Talented African-American writers produce a sizable
body of literature (poetry, fiction, drama, and essay)
“Two-ness” – divided awareness of one’s identity
Common themes – alienation, marginality, the use of
folk material, the use of the blues tradition, the
problems of writing for an elite audience
Racial consciousness; “back to Africa” movement
(Marcus Garvey), racial integration; explosion of jazz,
spirituals, and blues; painting; dramatic revues; etc.
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Lasted from 1919-1937.
Goals of the Harlem Renaissance:
◦ To respond to the social conditions of
African- Americans;
◦ To break with the 19th century minstrel
stereotypes of African-Americans;
◦ To place greater emphasis on black folk
culture;
◦ To provide political and social uplift for
African-Americans through social
programs such as the NAACP.
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William H. Johnson
Mount Calvary
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Lois Mailou Jones
Textile Design for Cretonne, 1928
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Street Life – Harlem,
1939-1940
William H.
Johnson
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Jazz
• Began in New Orleans during the late
1800’s
• Stemmed from Negro spirituals and grew
into a more formalized type of music
•Jazz is largely improvisation with musicians
creating the rhythm as they play.
•During the Harlem Renaissance, jazz made
a geographical move to the North as more
publishing companies opened in New York
and more opportunities for band
appearances became available.
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Louis Armstrong
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Billie Holliday
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From the 1930s through the 1950s, Zora
Neale Hurston was on of the most prolific
African-American female writers in
America.
Known for her candid portrayal of the
struggle and courage of AfricanAmericans in the rural South.
She was a unique artist, folklorist, and
anthropologist who remains one of the
most revered writers of all time.
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Born in Alabama (1891)
Age of three: moved to the town of
Eatonville, Florida, the first all-black
community to be incorporated to the United
States.
Attended Howard University & Barnard
College (studied Anthropology)
◦ Known for her research in American folklore as
well as Haiti and the British Isles
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Achieved fame & sparked controversy as a
novelist, anthropologist, essayist, lecturer, &
theatrical producer
TEWWG published during the Harlem
Renaissance (1937). TEWWG is her most
famous and widely-acclaimed novel.
◦ Incorporates black folk life
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Hurston died in a convalescent home,
penniless, and nameless on January 28,
1960.
She was buried in an unmarked grave
until 1973, when writer Alice Walker
discovered and inscribed her gravestone
with “Zora Neale Hurston A Genius of the
South 1901-1960 Novelist, Folklorist,
Anthropologist.”
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Culture
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Tradition
(everything that humans do that isn’t motivated by
natural instinct)
( cultural behavior that exhibits continuity in
time)
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Narrative
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Orality
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(stories—differing cultures have a differing
“sense of story”)
(anything that is spoken, changed, recited, sung, or
read aloud)
Performance
Etiology (any explanation for the origin of something)
Folklore (cultural behaviors or traditions)
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Eatonville,
Florida: 1930s
*The story is fictional,
but Eatonville (a
town created and
governed by African
Americans) is real.
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West Florida,
Jacksonville, The
Everglades, West
Palm Beach
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Hurston spent most of her life in the
town of Eatonville, Florida.
History of Eatonville
◦ Shortly after the Civil War, newly freed slaves
moved to central Florida in search of work.
◦ Because of the large influx of blacks, white
landowners and voters soon found themselves
outnumbered.
◦ In order to attempt a better balance of voters,
the proposal was made to offer blacks the
opportunity to purchase land and establish
their own community.
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Hurston recognized the value of folklore,
religion, and music to the African-American
culture, and sought to interweave its
richness and history within her novels, short
stories, plays, and collections.
One of the most important aspects of
African-American cultures around the world.
◦ Oral tradition-the verbal communication of stories
of history, family values, and morals, passed from
generation to generation.
◦ Folktales are a part of this oral tradition, and exist
in many cultures around the world.
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Folktales are carried from one place to
another as groups of people migrate, and
can change and adapt to new situations and
settings as these groups of people adapt to
their new surroundings and challenges.
Many African-American folktales traveled
from Africa as slaves were brought to
America.
Early African-American folktales provided a
way of broadening a sense of community
and unity, as well as an escape from the
burdens of slavery and oppression.
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Stories included heroes, magic, witches,
biblical characters, and more, were used as a
platform for teaching lessons, cultural values,
and the importance of family togetherness.
“Doc Rabbit, Bruh Fox, and Tar Baby” and
“Brer Rabbit and the Briar Patch” are two of
the most famous African-American folktales.
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Spiritual- slave song
Slaves were not allowed to speak any
language other than English, nor were they
allowed to read or write, slaves often
communicated through song.
Songs were used to educate, enlighten, and
reflect upon the past, present, and future
hopes of slaves.
Slaves would sing songs expressing love,
hope, sorrow, loss, and of their exile from
their homeland.
Slaves would also use songs to
communicate information.
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Janie Crawford
Nanny
Logan Killicks
Joe Starks
Tea Cake
Pheoby Watson
Mrs. Washburn
Mr. Turner
Mrs. Turner
Hezekiah
Motor Boat
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Janie’s hair
Pear tree
The horizon
The hurricane
Head rags worn by Janie / removal of hair rags
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Language
Power
Love
Independence
Community
Race & Racism
History
Religion / Spirituality