Description
Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, and grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black towns in the United States. She attended Howard University and later studied anthropology at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she became a student of the renowned anthropologist Franz Boas.
Hurston is best known for her novel “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” which was published in 1937 and is considered a classic of African-American literature. Her other notable works include “Mules and Men,” “Jonah’s Gourd Vine,” and “Tell My Horse.” In addition to her literary achievements, Hurston made significant contributions to anthropology, particularly in the study of African American folklore and cultural practices.
The Zora Neale Hurston stamp features a portrait of the author based on a photograph taken by Carl Van Vechten in 1938. The stamp also includes the title of Hurston’s most famous work, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” and her name in large letters. The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler and features artwork by artist and illustrator Kadir Nelson.
The Zora Neale Hurston stamp is part of the USPS’s Literary Arts series, which celebrates American writers and their contributions to the country’s cultural heritage. Other writers featured in the series include Edgar Allan Poe, Emily Dickinson, Mark Twain, and Walt Whitman.
The issuance of the Zora Neale Hurston stamp is a fitting tribute to a writer and cultural icon who was often overlooked in her lifetime but whose work has had a lasting impact on American literature and culture. The stamp serves as a reminder of Hurston’s legacy and the importance of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of Black writers and intellectuals.
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