Zora Neale Hurston an early twentieth century Afro-American feminist author, was raised in a predominately black community. That gave her an unique perspective on race relations, evident in her novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God. Hurston drew on her own experiences as a feminist Afro-American female, to create a story about the magical transformation of Janie from a young unconfident girl to a thriving woman.
Janie experiences many things, making her a compelling character who takes readers along as her companion on her voyage to discover the mysteries and rewards life has to offer. Zora Neale Hurston was the daughter of a Baptist minister and an educated scholar who still believed in the genius contained within the common southern black vernacular (Hook http://splavc.spjc.cc.fl.us/hooks/Zora.html).
She was a woman who found her place, though unstable, in a typically male profession. Hurston was born January 7, 1891, in Eatonville, Florida, the first all-incorporated black town in America. When Hurston was thirteen she was removed from school and sent to care for her brother's children. She became a member of a traveling theater at the age of sixteen, and then found herself working as a maid for a white woman.
This woman saw the spark that was waiting for fuel, and arranged for Hurston to attend high school in Baltimore. She also attended Morgan Academy (now called Morgan State University) from which she graduated in June of 1918. She then enrolled in the Howard Prep School followed by later enrollment in Howard University.
In 1928 Hurston attended Barnard College where she studied anthropology under Franz Boas. After she graduated, Zora returned to Eatonville to begin work in anthropology. Four years after Hurston received her B.A. from Barnard, she enrolled in Columbia University to begin graduate work (Discovering Authors, 2-4). Hurston's life seemed to be going well, but she was soon to see the other side of reali...