Sunrise 1/7/1891 Nostasulga, Alabama, sunset 1/28/60 in Florida.

She was a PK, preacher’s kid.

She grew up in Eatonville, Florida, an all-black town.

She worked as a maid and a singer.

During her life she had 4 novels published, most notably Their Eyes Were Watching God, and 50 short stories, plays, and essays.

She lied about her birthdate in order to attend high school at the HBCU Morgan State University. She co-founded The Hilltop, Howard University’s school newspaper.

She received a scholarship to Barnard and was the only black student enrolled.

She worked with Margaret Mead, Langston Hughes, and Countee Cullen.

She founded a school for dramatic arts at Bethune-Cookman University, a H.B.C.U.

Every Tongue Got to Confess was published posthumously after being discovered in her archives.