Spunk
Zora Neale Hurtson’s symbolism, style, and background help bring her story and her ethnicity to life.
Zora Neale Hurtson her short but successful career took her from poverty in Florida to the life of the literary icon in New York. Zora was born January 7 in a year never verified. She grew up in Eatonville, Florida. Eatonville was the first officially incorporated all black township in the United States. Zora’s father was a Baptist minister and carpenter. Her mother, Lucy was a former school teacher with a sewing business. She then died in 1904. Zora left home in 1915 to work as a maid for a traveling theatre company. She then found her way to Maryland, where she worked as a waitress. She completed high school and then studied literature and philosophy at Howard University.
Hurtson published her first short story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” She then moved to New York with “$1.50, no job, and a lot of hope.” Hurtson sought out and charmed the Harlem elite with her personality and soon achieved success as a writer. Her story “Spunk” won 2nd prize in opportunity magazine’s 1st literary contests. The prize got attention to a scholarship to Barnard College. She studied anthropology with the famous Franz Boas. Hurston lived for many years on gifts from wealthy white friends. With her friends support she carried on her folklore-collecting and her writing. During the 1930’s she produced dozens of short stories, 3 novels, and two important collections. She then became a sought-after lecturer at universities. But she wasn’t paid enough for her writing to support herself. She wasn’t paid enough because she was black. Her writing narrowed off in 1940 and in 1950, she had to take on a normal hob to make ends meet. She made an influence on everyone, everywhere she went. She had two brief marriages, won and lost several close friends and feuded publicity with other prominent African-Americans. Hurtson died in a county welfare home in Florida on January 28, 1960, and was
Zora Neale Hurtson her short but successful career took her from poverty in Florida to the life of the literary icon in New York. Zora was born January 7 in a year never verified. She grew up in Eatonville, Florida. Eatonville was the first officially incorporated all black township in the United States. Zora’s father was a Baptist minister and carpenter. Her mother, Lucy was a former school teacher with a sewing business. She then died in 1904. Zora left home in 1915 to work as a maid for a traveling theatre company. She then found her way to Maryland, where she worked as a waitress. She completed high school and then studied literature and philosophy at Howard University.
Hurtson published her first short story “John Redding Goes to Sea.” She then moved to New York with “$1.50, no job, and a lot of hope.” Hurtson sought out and charmed the Harlem elite with her personality and soon achieved success as a writer. Her story “Spunk” won 2nd prize in opportunity magazine’s 1st literary contests. The prize got attention to a scholarship to Barnard College. She studied anthropology with the famous Franz Boas. Hurston lived for many years on gifts from wealthy white friends. With her friends support she carried on her folklore-collecting and her writing. During the 1930’s she produced dozens of short stories, 3 novels, and two important collections. She then became a sought-after lecturer at universities. But she wasn’t paid enough for her writing to support herself. She wasn’t paid enough because she was black. Her writing narrowed off in 1940 and in 1950, she had to take on a normal hob to make ends meet. She made an influence on everyone, everywhere she went. She had two brief marriages, won and lost several close friends and feuded publicity with other prominent African-Americans. Hurtson died in a county welfare home in Florida on January 28, 1960, and was