Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) wore many (stylish) hats during her lifetime. Sometimes all at once. She was a novelist, anthropologist, folklorist, essayist, and playwright. Hurston was one of the stars of the Harlem Renaissance, a period of Black creativity that began after World War I and ended with the onset of the Great Depression. Written in seven weeks and considered a classic of the Harlem Renaissance, Their Eyes Were Watching God is Hurston’s best known novel. In it, she tells a beautiful coming of age story of Janie Crawford, a young Black woman growing up in the rural south. In this course, we will travel to early 20th century Florida and experience the people and culture through Janie’s eyes. We will join her as she grows from girl to woman, breaks societal norms, and learns to live life on her own terms.
Class Recordings: