Zora Neale Hurston was a prominent African American 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 seminal work in African American literature.

Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama, in 1891, but grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black towns in the United States. This upbringing in a predominantly Black community greatly influenced her writing and perspective on race and identity.

Hurston was a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural movement that celebrated African American art, literature, music, and culture. She was known for her vibrant personality, sharp wit, and keen observations of Black life in the American South.

In addition to her literary work, Hurston was also a trained anthropologist who conducted fieldwork studying African American folklore and traditions. She traveled extensively throughout the American South and the Caribbean to collect stories, songs, and cultural practices, which she documented in her writing.

Despite her significant contributions to American literature and anthropology, Hurston struggled with financial hardship and recognition during her lifetime. However, her work experienced a resurgence in popularity in the 1970s, leading to a renewed appreciation for her legacy as a pioneering Black woman writer.

Zora Neale Hurston passed away in 1960, but her impact on American literature and Black culture continues to be celebrated and studied today.