How it feels to be colored me

Name: How it feels to be colored me
Author: Zora Neale Hurston

By Zora Neale Hurston

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American Literature Essays, Letters & Speeches

About This Book

The essay offers a first-person account of growing from childhood in an exclusively Black small town into life among predominantly white settings, tracing how racial identity shifts with context. The narrator rejects victimhood and frames race as one aspect of a complex self, using vivid metaphors and anecdotes—portraying exhilaration at music, the jolt of being singled out at school, and a brown-bag image of mixed belongings—to argue for resilience, self-possession, and a refusal to be reduced to pigment while observing how social contrast reveals and conceals identity.

About the Author

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960) was an influential American author, anthropologist, and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. Known for her rich portrayals of African American culture and folklore, she contributed significantly to literature with works that explore themes of identity, race, and community. Her most notable work, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," is celebrated for its strong female protagonist and innovative narrative style. Hurston's writings, including essays and plays, reflect her deep understanding of the Southern Black experience, making her a vital voice in American literature. Her legacy continues to inspire readers and writers today.