1. Early life and Education:
- Born on January 7, 1891, in Eatonville, Florida.
- Hurston's father, John Hurston, was a Baptist preacher, and her mother, Lucy Potts Hurston, was a schoolteacher.
- She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C., and graduated in 1928.
2. Literary Career:
- Hurston's first published work was a short story titled "John Redding Goes to Sea," published in Opportunity magazine in 1926.
- Her most famous novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," was published in 1937 and received critical acclaim.
- She authored other notable works, such as "Mules and Men" (1935), a collection of African American folklore, and "Moses, Man of the Mountain" (1939).
3. Harlem Renaissance:
- Hurston was an influential figure during the Harlem Renaissance, a period of significant cultural and artistic development within the African American community.
- She became a part of a group of talented artists, writers, and intellectuals known as the "New Negro Movement."
4. Anthropological Work:
- In addition to her literary contributions, Hurston was also an anthropologist.
- She conducted fieldwork in various regions of the Southern United States and the Caribbean, studying African American folklore and cultural traditions.
5. Research on Hoodoo:
- Hurston conducted extensive research on Hoodoo, a spiritual tradition practiced by African Americans in the Southern United States.
- Her book "Mules and Men" includes valuable insights and documentation on Hoodoo rituals, beliefs, and practices.
6. Later Years and Legacy:
- Hurston's literary career faced challenges later in her life due to shifts in literary tastes and lack of recognition.
- She passed away in poverty on January 28, 1960, and was buried in an unmarked grave in Fort Pierce, Florida.
- In recent decades, there has been a renewed interest in Hurston's work, leading to the rediscovery and reassessment of her significant contributions to American literature and culture.