Wednesday, September 26, 2007

A Great Lady



Columba has an article about Florida author Zora Neale Hurston. Her approach to writing about African-American womanhood stands in stark contrast to Toni Morrison and Alice Walker. To quote:

Hurston is flying in the face of the power of the matriarchy in African American society. In this, she stands in opposition to Toni Morrison as well as to Alice Walker. (Interestingly, Dorothy West, whose own mother exemplified this matriarchy as West describes it in her book Living Is Easy, was a close friend of Hurston's in Harlem.) That Hurston is celebrating the joys of loving the other is the interpretation that is in keeping with the work of Hurston's entire life. She did not apologize for being black, for being a woman, for being a human being, but sought to discover the rich lode of African Americans' iron grip on life and humanity and present it as a gift to America and to the world. Share

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

One could say the same of Beebe Moore Campbell's novel titled Singing In The Comeback Choir. The novel certainly exposes the reader to "the rich lode of African American's iron grip on life and humanity and presents it as a gift to America and to the world".

elena maria vidal said...

Interesting! Thanks!