Zora Neale Hurston is a famous writer. She lived in Eatonville, Florida. Eatonville was the first place where black Americans could live independently of the prejudices of white society. Her father was a Baptist preacher, tenant farmer carpenter, and mayor.

In 1904, her mother Lucy died. This disturbed Zora's schooling and her life. She was passed from relative to relative. Her father was unappreciative and she was forced to take care of herself. At fourteen years old Zora left Eatonville, deciding to work as a maid for whites but refusing to act content to male employers. However, she never stayed in one job to long. Zora was a straight "A" student and graduated from Morgan Academy in 1918 and entered Howard University. At college, she also met Herbert Sheen. On May 19,1927 Herbert became her first husband. Unfortunately, the marriage did not last long because Hurston's career was her first priority. In 1925, Zora was in New York City and was very poor because she did not have a job.