Historical Context by Renee Graves
Socio-Economic
Context: Their Eyes Were Watching God was written by Zora Neale Hurston in
1937. Hurston wrote this novel in what is known today as Ebonics. This is defined as Black English. The setting
of this novel is in and around the Florida Everglades. In the 1900’s “the goal for the state of
Florida was to drain the northern part of the Everglades for agricultural purposes
and to prevent the crops from flooding.”[1]
Soon the Everglades became well populated.
However, in the 1920’s, 2,000 lives were taken by hurricanes that swept
over the Everglades. Hurston’s novel
parallels history with a deadly hurricane.
During this time African Americans were dealing with
prejudices, even though they were free.
They were treated as second class citizens by white Americans. Women especially were treated with very
little respect, and had few rights. This is true to life as Janie is
disrespected and beaten by her first and second husbands, respectively. Because
of the prejudices towards African Americans, they had to hold jobs that
required a lot of physical labor. This was very evident in the story. Tea Cake
worked in the fields, picking beans.
Political Context:
The Emancipation Proclamation was passed years prior to this time period. Steps
were beginning to take place for women. In America, the nineteenth Amendment was
passed on August 18, 1920.[2] This gave women the right to vote. The eighteenth Amendment was passed in 1933.
This prohibited the alcoholic consumption. [3]
In 1900 the president was Harding; in 1924 it was Coolidge; and then Hoover in
1928.[4]
Arts and
Entertainment Context: The Roaring
20’s was a new and exciting time for entertainment. Jazz influenced the music
scene. This was called the big band era. Interestingly, the first TIME Magazine
came out in 1923 and the first Academy Awards was in 1929.[5]
Warner Brothers made it way to the big screen during this time period. Hurston
weaves in music throughout her novel.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
