Hurston was a prolific writer, anthropologist, and folklorist. She traveled extensively throughout the American South, gathering and documenting African American folklore, particularly in her book "Mules and Men" (1935). This collection of folktales, myths, and stories, collected from African Americans in the rural South, is considered one of the most important works of African American folklore.
Hurston's work played a crucial role in preserving and highlighting the rich oral tradition of African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance.