Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent Black writer, anthropologist, and folklorist during the Harlem Renaissance in the 1920s and 1930s. She is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which is considered a classic of African American literature.

Hurston grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black incorporated towns in the United States. She later attended Howard University and Barnard College, where she studied anthropology and folklore, which greatly influenced her writing.

Hurston was known for her innovative use of African American vernacular and folklore in her work, capturing the culture and dialect of southern Black communities. She traveled extensively throughout the American South and the Caribbean to collect stories and folk tales, which she incorporated into her writing.

Despite facing financial struggles and not always receiving recognition during her lifetime, Zora Neale Hurston's work has since been celebrated for its powerful portrayal of Black life and culture. Her contributions to literature and anthropology have had a lasting impact on African American culture and the broader literary world.