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Zora Neale Hurston was buried in an unmarked grave in 1960, her books out of print. Thirteen years later the novelist Alice Walker travelled to Florida, found the plot, and paid for a headstone. Hurston is now taught everywhere.

Zora Neale Hurston (1891–1960)

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Why it matters

The idea in context

She had been a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, trained as an anthropologist, and wrote Their Eyes Were Watching God in seven weeks. But her insistence on writing Black southern life in its own voice fell out of fashion, and she died working as a maid, her funeral paid for by donations. Walker's 1975 essay 'In Search of Zora Neale Hurston' brought her back into print almost single-handedly. The headstone Walker chose reads: a genius of the South.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Zora Neale Hurston 1960'ta, kitapları baskıda değilken, mezar taşı olmayan bir mezara gömüldü. On üç yıl sonra romancı Alice Walker Florida'ya gitti, mezarı buldu ve bir taş yaptırdı. Hurston bugün her yerde okutuluyor.
Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960)

Harlem Rönesansı'nın merkezî isimlerindendi, antropolog olarak eğitim aldı ve Onların Gözleri Tanrı'yı Görüyordu'yu yedi haftada yazdı. Ama siyah güney hayatını kendi sesiyle yazmaktaki ısrarı modası geçmiş sayıldı; hizmetçi olarak çalışırken öldü ve cenazesi bağışlarla ödendi. Walker'ın 1975 tarihli 'Zora Neale Hurston'ı Ararken' yazısı onu neredeyse tek başına yeniden baskıya soktu. Walker'ın seçtiği mezar taşında şöyle yazar: Güney'in dâhisi.

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Background reading: Zora Neale HurstonAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
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