Celebrating Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God

Join us for a discussion of Hurston’s work, a book giveaway, and light refreshments.

The University of Florida is partnering with the Alachua County Library District and local community organizations to celebrate Zora Neale Hurston and her novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. With funding from a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Big Read grant, the Big Read will feature ten months of programs that use Hurston’s novel as a lens through which to explore the intersections of environment, people, and history in Alachua County and the surrounding area.

Beginning with a kick-off event in September 2024, programming will engage community members of Alachua County and UF in conversations about the novel, its themes, and how they relate to where we live. The community will have the opportunity to explore UF’s archives, including Zora Neale Hurston’s papers, attend panels and presentations that explore themes of Black geographies and community heritage, participate in book discussions in multiple languages and formats, explore writing through a series of workshops, and celebrate Zora Neale Hurston’s birthday.