Hurston Interview

Michelle Garcia

AP English

Ms. Woffinden

2.12.15

Zora Neale Hurston Interview

Known for being outspoken Zora Neale Hurston has taken an unusual deathly silence since the accusations came out in early September of this year. Since then Hurston has taken to remaining rather quite while the rest of the world watched in close anticipation to see what would come of these heinous accusations. I was given a rare chance to sit down with Ms. Hurston and get an insight into the psyche that her closest friends have described as “fragile” and “nearly gone”. The interview took place in Harlem, the neighborhood that once welcomed her with open arms but now shunned her with disgust. Zora described returning to the city in a few simple words, “Its painful to come back. Had you asked me last year I would have told you that I never planned on leaving but now I don’t know where I belong….” The words seemed as if the were ripped from her soul and left her raw and hurting. I had compiled a list of questions hoping to divulge the deepest secrets from this once beloved author but in truth I wasn’t sure how much she had left to tell. I asked if she had turned to God in her darkest hour during the trail to this she responded with a simple “no”. It was said in a barely audible whisper and full of shame, she continued to explain that during the trail she felt very alone going as far as saying; “there was no one left in my corner, I was clearly fighting this battle on my own”. I knew that my time was coming to an end but I had a few last questions, the most important being if she would write about her experience. It was only at this point that any hint of emotion entered her expression; it was a somber, and heart wrenching. All she had to say was, “Haven’t they done it enough? You can read about it from anyone now so why hear my truth?”; referencing the African-American newspapers that ran the story mid way through the trail. Now I suppose only time will tell if this once great...