Zora Neale Hurston was an influential African American writer, anthropologist, and a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama, she grew up in Eatonville, Florida, one of the first all-Black towns to be incorporated in the United States. Hurston is best known for her 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which explores themes of racial identity and gender through the life of an African American woman. Her work often celebrated the richness of Black culture and folk traditions, but she faced financial difficulties and critical neglect later in life. Despite these challenges, Hurston's contributions have been recognized posthumously, securing her place as a pivotal voice in American literature.