The Gilded Six-Bits, By Zora Neale Hurston

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Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama on January 7, 1891. Her family moved to Eatonville, Florida, when she was three years old. Eatonville, Florida was one of the very first all-black towns incorporated in the United State. Her parents were John and Lucy Ann Hurston. Her father was a Baptist preacher while her mother was a school teacher. Her mother passed away in 1904, her father remarried and her father and stepmother send her away to a boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida. Her father and stepmother stopped paying her tuition which resulted in her being expelled from school. She worked as a maid to a lead singer in a traveling Gilbert and Sullivan Theatrical company. She was offered a scholarship to attend the prestigious Barnard College, where she was the college’s first black student. She earned her B.A in Anthropology. The memories of her self-segregated community stayed close to her heart, which lead her to oppose segregation in schools in the 1950’s against the rising tide of the civil rights movement. Hurston wrote “The Gilded Six-Bits” after her first divorce, the story influenced her life greatly as an African American in the Harlem Renaissance. During the Harlem Renaissance black artists explored their culture and showed pride in their race, through music and literature. “The Gilded Six-Bits was a magazine story published in 1933 by Bertram Lippincott. In “The Gilded Six Bits” Hurston gave an insight into human nature: which suggest that if patient and forgiveness is learned in any relationship, it can lead to a rewarding life. The story have three main characters, they are Joe Banks, Missie May Banks and Otis Slemmons. Joe and Missie May Banks are newlywed couple who live in an all-black rural communi...

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...ms as though they are only dating, by the little flirtatious and tackling games they play. However, reality strikes as the newlyweds love was put to test and soon the readers find out they are actually newlyweds. The theme of appearance and reality is also demonstrated with Otis Slemmons. He portrays himself to be a wealthy man; by the way he carries himself around the town. However, reality strikes as readers come to find out that he actually is just putting on a show.
In conclusion, Hurston was one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance. She fought in protecting the rights of African Americans. She was known for her short stories, play, journal articles and novels. She achieved fame during her life time but she was later forgotten by the public. She was later honored after her death and she received many recognition for her plays, novels and short story.

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