Dust Tracks on a Road

Discuss Hurston's representation of the relationships between African Americans and whites in the memoir. What about this representation and the historical context of the 1940s might have made her work the subject of such positive attention?

Describe Hurston's perspective on what it means to be African American. Using research to provide context, explain what about her perspective contrasts with the prevailing racial wisdom of the day.

Hurston's early life was deeply shaped by her exposure to African-American folk and oral culture. Describe in detail the values and rituals of African-American folk and oral culture as represented by Hurston. How do these aspects of African-American culture shape Hurston's voice as a writer?

Discuss the importance of education, both formal and informal, in Hurston's life.

Hurston writes that "[r]esearch is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose" (143). Beyond being a creative writer and performer, Hurston made important contributions to the field of anthropology under the guidance of Franz Boas. Review the sections of the memoir on her anthropological work, research her reputation as a folklorist, then discuss how Hurston's work as a researcher connected to and re-shaped her relationship with Florida.

Hurston lived in and traveled to many places over the course of the time recounted in the memoir. In written or graphic form, describe these places. What impact did each place have on her identity?

Describe Hurston's perspective on gender relationships, romance, and love. How are her attitudes different from some of the prevailing attitudes about gender and love of the day?

In his review of Dust Tracks on a Road in the Saturday Review (November 28, 1942, Vol. 26.2), Phil Strong writes that the "race consciousness that spoils so much Negro literature is completely absent here. Miss Hurston is less impressed by her own color than most Aryan redheads. She gives one chapter to "My People"–perhaps the most sensible passage on the subject that has ever been written. She agrees with Booker T. Washington that if the stuff is in you it is likely to come out and that if it isn't it doesn't make any difference whether you are white, black, green, or cerise" (3). Do you agree with his assessment? Provide support from the memoir for your answer.