Zora Neale Hurston was an influential African American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker during the Harlem Renaissance. She is best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which is considered a classic of African American literature. Hurston was born in 1891 in Notasulga, Alabama, and grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-black towns in the United States.

Hurston studied anthropology at Barnard College and conducted research in the Caribbean and the American South, focusing on black folklore and culture. Her work was groundbreaking in its celebration of African American vernacular traditions and folklore. Hurston's writing often explored themes of race, gender, and identity in the context of the African American experience.

Despite facing challenges and criticism during her lifetime, Hurston's work has since been rediscovered and celebrated for its unique voice and perspective. She remains an important figure in Black history for her contributions to literature and cultural anthropology.