Zora Neale Hurston: The Eatonville Connection

Abstract

It is possible that the earlier criticism of Zora Neale Hurston and her work reflected, among other things, a lack of understanding of the relationship between the writer and her environment. Hurston's hometown was Eatonville, Florida, the first incorporated all-black city in the United States. In order to understand and appreciate her work, it is necessary to examine how and to what extent Eatonville influenced the life and work of Zora Neale Hurston. Together, the town and the woman made a significant contribution to American culture.