Criticism for Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston's most famous novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, was a story that was praised or looked down upon.  The novel was reviewed by people in the black community and shot down by many of them.  Richard Wright was especially harsh during his review and thought the book was a bad reflection on the black community.  He stated in his review that  ". . . The sensory sweep of her novel carries no theme, no message, no thought. In the main, her novel is not addressed to the Negro, but to a white audience whose chauvinistic tastes she knows how to satisfy. She exploits that phase of Negro life which is "quaint," the phase which evokes a piteous smile on the lips of the "superior" race." ("Between Laughter and Tears," 1937) His review sent Zora Neale Hurston into seclusion and gave her writings a bad name.  

I think that Zora Neale Hurston's writing style introduces people to the black dialect and culture.  Their Eyes Were Watching God gave people insight to the tough times black women went through because they are treated the most unfairly.  Her story so far has been a journey through a young woman life who is trying to find her true self while finding love.  Their Eyes Were Watching God is full imagery, symbolism, and African American oral tradition.  Zora Neale Hurston did not receive the credit she deserved during her lifetime.  After the harsh criticism, and she stopped writing and died poor.  Her story is read by people.  Hurston's book gives readers an insight on how hard a black woman's life was, just like Janie's.  Zora Neale Hurston is a well-respected author who should have been given more respect for her writings despite the tough criticism from other popular authors of the time.

Zora Neale Hurston 

Sources: 
"Hurston, Zora Neale." U*X*L Biographies. Detroit: U*X*L, 2010. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 14 Apr. 2011.
"Hurston Home Page." n. pag. Web. 14 Apr 2011. <http://people.virginia.edu/~sfr/enam312/znhhp.html>.