“They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God.”–Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes were Watching God
This American classic was published in 1937 and is a powerful story of love, cruelty, survival, and independence. Janie Crawford is a young woman with little say in the direction of her life. Her grandmother, in an attempt to help Janie and keep her safe, wants to marry her off to a respectable man as soon as possible. Janie wants love as much or more than security and is not thrilled with the arrangement. She will make the first of several decisions that will change her life forever. Over time, Janie learns to assert herself, gain independence, and even finds happiness. She is a strong female protagonist who transforms from a young woman with no voice to a woman who controls her own destiny.
Content Advisory: Domestic abuse, some language, racism, use of the n-word, references to sex