When Zora calls you answer. On Friday January 27th, 2023, the 34th annual Zora Festival was underway. The festival acts as an annual celebration of the legacy that is Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston is one America’s most profound authors, and is recognized as the most significant collector and interpreter of the Southern, African American Culture. Her work continues to live on through her art and in her historical hometown town of Eatonville, Florida.
Eatonville is the first town in the United States to be settled and established by freed African Americans after the Civil War. The town not only serves as a historical destination, but also serves as the house of Zora.
Zora featured vendors from around the country. Vendors journeyed from as far as Baton Rouge, Louisiana to display their different forms of African art and pay homage to Hurston’s legacy. Displays ranged from hand stitched African Dresses, to Essential Oils.
One could even find tents specifically dedicated to the teaching of Hurston’s literature catalog. Organizations such as The Florida Historical Society used the festivals “Education Day”, for the purposes of informing and inspiring the next generation of Hurston’s legacy. Longtime librarian Elizabeth Chitko believes the importance of Hurston’s literature isn’t discussed enough, “She has such an important legacy to be told and so does the town Eatonville”.
Festivals like Zora, continue to be a key concept for African American’s seaking to teach their whole culture without it being concealed or tampered. On January 19, 2023 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis banned the teaching of an Advanced Placement Course teaching African American studies. Although the Governor has received backlash fro the decision, DeSantis has doubled down on his claim that the course is “somebody pushing an agenda on our kids”. While hundreds of students from around Central Florida visited Zora on its first day, the Governors decision amplifies Zora’s impact.
Comments