A leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, Zora Neale Hurston was born on this day 125 years ago, Jan. 7, 1891 in Notasulga, Ala.
The daughter of two former slaves, Hurston catapulted herself from her meager beginnings in Florida to acclaimed author and anthropologist. She was a contemporary of Langston Hughes and a graduate of Howard University, where she wrote for the school newspaper.
Her classic 1937 novel, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," is now required reading and the way most of her fans are first introduced to her writing. Despite her earlier achievements, Hurston died poor, alone and unremarked upon in Fort Pierce, Fla., in 1960. She was buried in an unmarked grave.
On this the 125th anniversary of her birth, social media users tweeted their favorite photos, quotes and memes from Hurston's writing. Some celebs joined the conversation, too.
Scroll below to see some rare photos of Hurston and read some of her more memorable quotes.
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