You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays

De: Zora Neale Hurston, Henry Louis Gates, Genevieve West

Narrado por: Robin Miles

Introduction by New York Times bestselling author Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Spanning more than 35 years of work, the first comprehensive collection of essays, criticism, and articles by the legendary author of the Harlem Renaissance, Zora Neale Hurston, showcasing the evolution of her distinctive style as an archivist and author.

“One of the greatest writers of our time.”—Toni Morrison

You Don’t Know Us Negroes is the quintessential gathering of provocative essays from one of the world’s most celebrated writers, Zora Neale Hurston. Spanning more than three decades and penned during the backdrop of the birth of the Harlem Renaissance, Montgomery bus boycott, desegregation of the military, and school integration, Hurston’s writing articulates the beauty and authenticity of Black life as only she could. Collectively, these essays showcase the roles enslavement and Jim Crow have played in intensifying Black people’s inner lives and culture rather than destroying it. She argues that in the process of surviving, Black people re-interpreted every aspect of American culture—""modif[ying] the language, mode of food preparation, practice of medicine, and most certainly religion.” White supremacy prevents the world from seeing or completely recognizing Black people in their full humanity and Hurston made it her job to lift the veil and reveal the heart and soul of the race. These pages reflect Hurston as the controversial figure she was—someone who stated that feminism is a mirage and that the integration of schools did not necessarily improve the education of Black students. Also covered is the sensational trial of Ruby McCollum, a wealthy Black woman convicted in 1952 for killing her lover, a white doctor.

Demonstrating the breadth of this revered and influential writer’s work, You Don’t Know Us Negroes and Other Essays is an invaluable chronicle of a writer’s development and a window into her world and mind.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Detailed AUTHENTIC!!!!

The pace was perfect and Zora's humor shines even in the serious genre of prose and facts.

Masterpieces of historical information

As usual, ZNH comes through in historic narrative. I learned a lot. thorough entertained.i will be reading more.

Strong writing; a thorough if dry collection

As one expects from Zora, the essay collection contains strong writing and thorough research.

However, it is an often dry collection of essays touching upon work in areas including: anthropology, race relations, political/financial strife at Howard Univ. & her belief that Brown v BOE would hurt ultimately hurt the race it seeks to help.
Much of the text is dated, which is understandable as the essays range from 65-100+ years old. The subject matter is dry, but those who've read some of her other nonfiction (Barracoon, for one) will get much much more from the book than those only familiar with Their Eyes Were Watching God.

The associative clarity in facts.

Being able to find hope and encouragement which provide affirmation of history, not distortion of the truths integration suggests.

Robotic Reading

The robotic reader made the book unbearable. I don’t recommend the audiable book. Zora was full of life the reader is not.