On January 28, 1960, famed author and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston passed away at the age of 69. Born on January 7, 1891 in Eatonville, Florida, Hurston was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance and a key figure in African-American literature. After taking courses in the fields of anthropology and writing at Barnard College, Hurston went on to produce several acclaimed novels, including Their Eyes Were Watching God, as well as essays, short stories, and plays. Throughout her career, Hurston wrote extensively about African-American culture, making her a ground-breaking author. Her works won multiple endorsements from notable figures in the African-American community, including Langston Hughes, and her books remain renowned today. Hurston was honored with the Parsons Fund Award in 1949, and her legacy lives on through her works and her status as an inspiration to generations of African-American authors.