Known for her vivid storytelling and use of imagery from Black folktales, Zora Neale Hurston is a celebrated figure in American literature. Her body of work is taught in Black studies and women's studies courses. Yet criticism of her work has also been a part of her legacy.
A prominent member of the Harlem Renaissance and founder and self-proclaimed “Queen of the Niggerati,” Hurston's stories depicted Black life as she knew it. Detractors argued that Hurston romanticized the past and emphasized cultural pride over the pressing socioeconomic issues faced by the Black community. Often, these digs came from other Black writers.
Some asserted that her refusal to tackle topics such as racial oppression and poverty limited her perspective and failed to challenge the status quo. Others claimed that Hurston's depiction of vernacular speech caricatured and perpetuated harmful stereotypes about African Americans.
These criticisms reveal a deep-rooted anti-Blackness. Hurston wrote through the lens of her own upbringing: a settled and peaceful life surrounded by Blackness. Her experience and way of knowing were no less valid than anyone else's. By claiming her characters were negative examples of Blackness, her critics ignore the richly nuanced cultural tapestry she wove.
Blackness is not a monolith. Zora Neale Hurston drives this crucial point home with her work. Through her insightful narratives and powerful storytelling, Hurston dismantles preconceived notions about Black identity, forcing society to confront its own shameful ignorance. Let’s celebrate the beauty of our differences and stand in solidarity with each other.