www.zoranealehurston.com
Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the pre-eminent writers of twentieth-century African-American literature. Hurston was closely associated with the Harlem Renaissance and has influenced such writers as Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, Gayle Jones, Alice Walker, and Toni Cade Bambara.
5 comments:
Yes Zora was one of a kind- I love her works- I understand she and Langston were buddies-Would have loved to listen in on some of those discussions- To have experienced Langstons exp from being at LU years later was a true blessing- I really like your blog-Keep writing Sister Helen -Good stuff- PS- Nxt Saturday Dec17 from 3-5P at the Black Writers Museum-Maplewood Mall GErmantown legendary - Sister Sonya Sanchez is doing a book signing-May want to check it out-Peace and Blessings-shelaj
As for the dialect, coming from the south, I actually used to speak that way. It took a lot of unlearning when I came here to drop that. When I home for a visit my family chastised me for sounding saditty 'cause I moved to the city.
Isn't it interesting how people are perceived and judged by the dialect they speak and the words they use. What I find revolutionary in a sense is that Zora's works not only were written in negro dialect; but as an anthropologist she studied black folks language patterns, stories and traditions in regions all over the south, Haiti, Jamaica and documented and validated these language patterns in an era when mainstream White America did not honor, respect or value them. So she stood up, often alone - with some people thinking she was too eccentric, too brazen and too fearless. Yet, she was a trailblazer in so many ways. Once I learned of Zora's path and journey through studies, travels, field work and writing...I was hooked!!! I became fascinated and interesting in developing some of my own connections in parts of the south (South Carolina and the sea islands off the coast of Georgia) to learn more about and produce a documentary film and book that captures all of the African traditions that have been kept alive for generations by Black folks - from the Continent of Africa thru the Middle Passage, enslavement, Jim Crow, Civil Rights era...and still are alive today "unintentionally." I'm talking about those everyday practices, expressions, and even occupations- (shrimpers, basket weavers,etc) that people do been simply because it is what they have always done.
I have family by marriage from Hilton Head, SC and Mt Pleasant, SC and you see and hear such deep African rhythms and it needs to be preserved. I also met a woman in SC who helped to found the International Association of Basket Weavers. They weave intricate baskets out of sea grass, and a dear Sister/Mentor (to me)/Professor...Dr. Rosalind Jeffries (Internationally recognized Art Historian) said the patterns in their baskets is identical to patterns in baskets in West Africa...so it lives on! Strong Roots!!! Hopefully & prayerfully that is one of my personal & professional goals in 2012 to spend some time down in SC.
I would like to plan/sponsor a Low Country Artist Retreat for an extended weekend (Friday to Monday) on Sapelo Island, Georgia around late July or early August 2012. We would stay in a small rustic lodge, prepare our own meals, and eat communally, spend time daily at the ocean's edge (maybe doing some yoga, stretches, exercise or just chilling), go out on a small boat, take hikes...and record our thoughts, ideas, experiences in whatever way we choose...writing, poetry, drawing, singins, playing an instrument, dancing, moving...etc. and share them with each other. I would try to schedule a guest speaker who is born on raised on the island and a published author of s great novel. The lodge sleeps 8. Anyone interested?
I really like the idea of the retreat. As long as the date didn't conflict w/my youngest's birthday (16th) or either of their college stuff (?), I'd be fine w/August. July is pretty wide open for me. Keisha S-C
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