Free Downtown Cultural Series Event Supported By Nevada Humanities’ Humanities on the Road Program

A woman of enormous talent, remarkable drive, and a rare intellectual prowess, Hurston was an independent feminist. A writer of stories and novels, a playwright, and an anthropologist, she was a pioneer in the study of black folklore. Hurston was a trendsetter and went through life as she chose with her open style and manner.

Living at the heart of the Harlem renaissance, she was surrounded by other talented African-Americans of the period, such as Arna Bontemps and Langston Hughes. Her book, Of Mules and Men, based on her groundbreaking fieldwork in her home state of Florida, and in New Orleans, gained high recognition and remains popular today.

Westbrook has been telling stories as various Chautauqua characters throughout the United States and internationally since 1995. She created a community youth program that focuses on development and empowerment skills for high school students and is the founder of Simunye Productions, which promotes storytelling, motivational speaking and historical presentations. 

The performance is supported by Nevada Humanities’ Humanities on the Road program and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Downtown Cultural Series is presented in partnership with the Lloyd D. George Courthouse.