Their Eyes Were Their Eyes Were Watching GodWatching God

Zora Neale Hurston Zora Neale Hurston

and and

the Harlem Renaissancethe Harlem Renaissance

The Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance 1920’s and 1930’s1920’s and 1930’s First time mainstream publishers First time mainstream publishers

and critics took African American and critics took African American literature seriouslyliterature seriously

Beyond literature, encompassedBeyond literature, encompassed MusicMusic TheaterTheater ArtArt PoliticsPolitics

The Great MigrationThe Great Migration Post Civil WarPost Civil War Movement of blacks from Movement of blacks from

economically depressed economically depressed South to industrial NorthSouth to industrial North

More educated and socially More educated and socially conscious African Americans conscious African Americans moved to Harlem (NYC)moved to Harlem (NYC)

The Great MigrationThe Great Migrationby Jacob Lawrenceby Jacob Lawrence

•Pyramid shape shows sense of community

•Taking “home” with them (box)

•Community paralleled to flock

Common Themes:Common Themes: Alienation, Alienation, marginality, use of folk material, marginality, use of folk material, use of blues tradition, problems use of blues tradition, problems for writing for an elite audience.for writing for an elite audience.

Post World War IPost World War I Openness to literature and Openness to literature and

changechange Sophisticated New Yorkers, Sophisticated New Yorkers,

black and white drawn to black and white drawn to Harlem for music and nightlifeHarlem for music and nightlife

Stimulated national market for Stimulated national market for African American literature African American literature and musicand music

The music: jazzThe music: jazzEmerging musicians:Emerging musicians:

Bessie SmithBessie Smith Jelly Roll MartinJelly Roll Martin Louis ArmstrongLouis Armstrong Duke EllingtonDuke Ellington

Fire!Fire!

Literary magazine in HarlemLiterary magazine in Harlem First published 1926First published 1926 Publishers:Publishers:

Langston HughesLangston HughesZora Neale HurstonZora Neale HurstonWallace ThurmonWallace Thurmon

Art from all genres Art from all genres (visual arts, literature, (visual arts, literature,

music) appealed to music) appealed to mixed audiences but mixed audiences but

relied on white relied on white publishing houses.publishing houses.

Ending of Harlem Ending of Harlem RenaissanceRenaissance

Great Depression (economic Great Depression (economic pressure)pressure)

Growing feeling by some Growing feeling by some artists that art should be artists that art should be politically motivated; that is, politically motivated; that is, should highlight African should highlight African American issues such as American issues such as segregation and racism.segregation and racism.

Major Accomplishment Major Accomplishment ofof

Harlem Renaissance:Harlem Renaissance:

Proved that the white race Proved that the white race did not have a monopoly did not have a monopoly on literature and culture on literature and culture in Americain America

Zora Neale HurstonZora Neale Hurston Born 1891Born 1891 As a child moved to As a child moved to

Eatonville, FloridaEatonville, Florida (1(1stst all-black all-black incorporated town incorporated town in Americain America

Father served Father served several terms as several terms as mayormayor

Attended Howard Attended Howard UniversityUniversity

Published 1Published 1stst story in story in 1921 (age 30)1921 (age 30)

Moved to Harlem Moved to Harlem 19251925 Became significant figure in Became significant figure in

Harlem RenaissanceHarlem Renaissance Primary publisher of Primary publisher of Fire!Fire! Enrolled in Barnard College Enrolled in Barnard College

and studied anthropology and studied anthropology (study of man) under Franz (study of man) under Franz Boas (greatest anthropologist Boas (greatest anthropologist of 20of 20thth Century) Century)

Two greatest influences Two greatest influences on writing:on writing:

Living in Eatonville (largely Living in Eatonville (largely sheltered from racial prejudice most sheltered from racial prejudice most African Americans experienced else African Americans experienced else where)where)

Study of anthropologyStudy of anthropology: the study : the study of humankind in all its aspects, of humankind in all its aspects, especially human culture or human especially human culture or human development development

Their Eyes Were Their Eyes Were Watching GodWatching God

Published in 1937 (Hurston age 46, Janie Published in 1937 (Hurston age 46, Janie age 40; Hurston had difficulty with age 40; Hurston had difficulty with relationships: two marriages, one with a relationships: two marriages, one with a much younger man )much younger man )

Technically after HR, but associated with Technically after HR, but associated with that time periodthat time period

Well received by white critics as intimate Well received by white critics as intimate portrait of southern blacks; however, portrait of southern blacks; however, notable black authors thought it was notable black authors thought it was stereotyping the black race as happy go stereotyping the black race as happy go lucky and ignorant.lucky and ignorant.

Social RealismSocial Realism

Thought art should be political and expose Thought art should be political and expose social injusticessocial injustices

Dismissed Harlem Renaissance authors as Dismissed Harlem Renaissance authors as devoid of political contentdevoid of political content

Richard Wright (African American author) Richard Wright (African American author) wrote a scathing review of wrote a scathing review of Eyes:Eyes: Dialect portrayed blacks negativelyDialect portrayed blacks negatively Content failed to address timely social Content failed to address timely social

injustices such as segregation and racisminjustices such as segregation and racism

Hurston focus was not on racism, Hurston focus was not on racism, but on feminism. (Most male but on feminism. (Most male authors did not support her.)authors did not support her.) Childhood in Eatonville vastly void of Childhood in Eatonville vastly void of

racism (all black community)racism (all black community) Hurston wanted to focus on the Hurston wanted to focus on the

celebration of speech and the celebration of speech and the traditions of black people.traditions of black people.

Hurston’s last daysHurston’s last days 1950’s – fell into obscurity1950’s – fell into obscurity Could not get work publishedCould not get work published Employment as a maidEmployment as a maid Had stroke; moved to welfare homeHad stroke; moved to welfare home January 28January 28thth , 1960 – died penniless; , 1960 – died penniless;

buried in unmarked graveburied in unmarked grave Author Alice Walker read work and Author Alice Walker read work and

appreciated; decided to find grave; found appreciated; decided to find grave; found and marked with phrase “A genius and marked with phrase “A genius of the South.”of the South.”