The Importance of Zora Neale Hurston’s Education in American Literature
American literature is rich and diverse, with various authors showing their unique styles and voices. However, few writers have been as important or influential as Zora Neale Hurston. Her works are filled with cultural insights, beautiful prose, and timeless themes that still resonate today.
One of the most remarkable things about Zora Neale Hurston is her education. Hurston was a woman who valued education, especially for Black Americans, which was a rare attitude in her time. She was not only a writer but also an anthropologist, folklorist, and filmmaker. Her education played a significant role in shaping her views and contributed to her success as a writer.
Hurston’s Educational Journey
Zora Neale Hurston’s education began at home, where she received lessons from her mother and father. Her father was a Baptist preacher, and her mother was a schoolteacher, which meant that education was always a priority in their household. Hurston clearly benefited from this early education, as she was writing poetry by the age of ten and had a deep appreciation for literature and storytelling.
Later on, Hurston received a scholarship to attend Howard University, where she studied anthropology and English. She flourished in this environment, soaking up knowledge and learning from her professors and classmates. She was encouraged to conduct research on Black folk culture, which would later become one of her major themes as a writer.
After leaving Howard University, Hurston continued her education at Barnard College, where she studied under the famous anthropologist Franz Boas. Boas encouraged her to conduct fieldwork in the South, where she would gather stories and folklore from Black communities. This experience would be transformative for Hurston, as it would become the basis for much of her writing.
The Impact of Hurston’s Education on American Literature
Zora Neale Hurston’s education had a significant impact on American literature. Her deep understanding of Black folk culture and her ability to weave that knowledge into her writing created a new kind of literature. One that was at once sophisticated, entertaining, and authentic. Hurston was unafraid to use dialect and to explore taboo subjects like voodoo and sexuality in her writing, which made her stand out from other writers of her time.
Hurston’s education also helped to pave the way for other Black writers, who would later use their own experiences and knowledge to create groundbreaking works. Her legacy as an educator and an author continues to inspire future generations of writers, scholars, and readers.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Zora Neale Hurston’s education was a crucial component of her success as an author. Her family’s emphasis on education, coupled with her academic studies, contributed to her ability to write with depth and authenticity. Hurston’s legacy lives on, as her work is still read and studied today, and her influence on American literature remains profound.
