Their Eyes Were Watching God

Zora Neale Hurston uses the phrase, “their eyes were watching God,” as the title of her book; nevertheless, this phrase appears only once, when it describes the people waiting for the hurricane with uncertainty of what might come. This uncertainty also describes the feelings of African American living in the Harlem Renaissance. Like the storm, this event is unpredictable. Nevertheless, it allows the African American race to embrace their cultural identity through art, literature, music, and philosophy. However, what lies ahead after this storm is uncertain; therefore, they must watch the work of nature, God. Since nature is blind and cannot see race, gender, or economic status, it affects everyone both white and black, men and women, and rich and poor as seen in the storm. Even though one might has lost everything due to the storm as Janie has, the acknowledgement of self will live on as it did for Janie. Thus, like the storm, the Harlem Renaissance will affects everyone, and once it passed, the acknowledgement of the self will live on when we read its literature, listen to its music, and look at its art.