For a place with so many strong ties to the civil rights movement, it’s funny how far away black history feels in GreaterJax™ – like that stuff only happened in Detroit or Chicago.
American writer, folklorist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston lived in Eatonville, Fla., for almost all her life.
Like Augusta Savage, she’s an artist of the Harlem Renaissance. She worked in the WPA during the Great Depression.
Hurston is most famous for her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God, set in Eatonville – the first all-Black town incorporated in the United States – and south Florida.
Both chronicle and commentary on black life and politics in Florida, Their Eyes Are Watching God is still routinely taught in English classes in the public schools.
23rd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities
The 23rd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities opened last Saturday.
Surprise!
Admittedly, Eatonville is a little outside even the most liberal interpretation of “Greater Jacksonville,” so like the Orange City Blue Spring Manatee Festival, you’re gonna have to drive a little way to attend.
Zora!Festival 2012’s theme is "The Rise of Community: The Town of Eatonville Models 125 Years of Self-Governance." Activities include a street festival, a screenwriting competition, live concerts, educational seminars, heritage tours, a HATitude brunch and an outdoor festival.
It’s unfortunate that all this happens during a work week, but if you travel light, you can make today’s event and still get home at a decent hour.
Day 3, Monday, January 23“An Evening in Eatonville — With Zora,” 7:30-9 p.m., Free & Open To The Public
The performance features select passages on Hurston’s views Historic Eatonville and her citizens.
Location:Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, 412 East Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville
Day 4, Tuesday, January 24 – “In Conversation with Dr. Irina Morozova, ” Free & Open To The Public
A Professor of Comparative Studies, Literature Department Institute for Philology and History, Russian State University for Humanities Moscow, Dr. Morozova discusses why she continues to travel from Russia to Historic Eatonville for the ZORA! Festival.
Location:Orange County Library System - Eatonville Branch, Zora Neale Hurston Square, 200 E. Kennedy Blvd.
Day 5 – Wednesday, January 25 – “Engaging Audiences on the University Campus: An Exploration of the ZORA! Festival 2012 Theme”
Day Program:A guided tour of a newly-developed section The University of Central Florida Arboretum featuring foliage from Africa and Mexico that requires no watering.
Evening program:A multidisciplinary discussion of gardens vis-a-vis their place in the life of man.
If you haven’t been to Eatonville (or Rosewood) go.
Now’s as good a time as any.
23rd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts & Humanities
- Jan. 21-29, Outdoor Festival Jan. 27-29, FREE admission
- Sponsored by the Assoc. to Preserve the Eatonville Community (P.E.C.)
- Beautiful Downtown Eatonville
- 227 E. Kennedy Blvd
- Eatonville, FL 32751
- Phone: 407.647.3307
- Fax: 407.539.2192
- E-mail: zorafestival1@yahoo.com
Directions to Eatonville: Just north of Orlando/Winter Park. Exit I-4 East at Lee Road, turn right onto Lee Road and then turn left onto Orlando Avenue. Take another left onto Kennedy Boulevard, Eatonville’s main street.
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©2012 All rights reserved.
OFFICIAL BIO: K Truitt is a second-generation, native Floridian born in Jacksonville. Truitt worked in public higher education for 25 years, most recently in Texas, is a successful grant writer, knows newspaper publishing, printing and graphic design and wants to work in the public sector. Contact: kt.4examiner@yahoo.com
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