Zora Neal Hurston

Student of Franz Boas (founder of modern Anthropology, scientific study of human development and society)  ethnography�you have to go out in the field and observe (before you theorize)  primitive vs.
�civilized� culture

We define ourselves through biases and cultural constructions/preconceptions

�How it feels to be colored me?�

White uplift/support governmental interference?�she opposed

Do we know what we�re missing?  Loss of soul/culture amenable to development of soul/spirit in the modern industrialized society

The native whites rode dusty horse  natives?  Primitives or people native to place?

got just as much pleasure out of the tourists as the tourists got out of the village.reciprocity�the natives are just interested in the native tourists

Zora between Eatonville and greater world�defined by herself

brown specter for whites�white guilt

As black she is in complete freedom to define herself, instead of being defined by history

the veneer we call civilizationZora�we all have this false veil we wear to control/mask our primitive primal reality   American high culture has lost its connection with the soul/emotions/authentic identity beyond the mask of supposed education

Culture is organic�cannot change it overnight with legislation

 

Langston Hughes�A Dream Deferred

Pessimistic�very visual-imagery

Both have nice jazz-like rhythms (not standard rhyme)

Ultimate message to whites and blacks: not achieving cultures�explosion?  Riots?  Revolution?  Crime? Drugs�creation of permanent under-class, hopelessness

What would Zora say to Langston?  What is your dream?  Is it too materialistic?  Or too individualistic?  Whats happened to that organic community?   Consumer society? 

 

Last Modified 7/1/23