NEW YORK — A century after Zora Neale Hurston arrived at Barnard as its first Black student, the College will bring together writers, scholars, artists, students, and admirers of her work for a three-year centennial celebration honoring her legacy, scholarship, and impact.
In 1925, Zora Neale Hurston, a trailblazer and one of Barnard’s most esteemed alumnae, became the College’s first Black student. Her presence paved the way for the accomplished Black women who continue to follow in her footsteps. The College’s Zora Neale Hurston ’28 Centennial is an in-depth, multi-year exploration of Hurston’s influence on literature, anthropology, and Black intellectual thought.
“This centennial is more than a celebration, it’s a recognition of 100 years of Black students at Barnard and the lasting influence of Zora Neale Hurston," said President Laura Rosenbury. "We honor this history with a multi-year tribute that highlights both Hurston’s legacy and the contributions of generations of Black students who followed in her footsteps. At Barnard, we champion leadership and bold change-making, and Zora embodied both. Her courage, brilliance, and unwavering belief in her own path continue to inspire Barnard students today.”
The celebration began with the inaugural Zora Neale Hurston Summit, led by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust and supported by Barnard’s Africana Studies Department. On January 31 and February 1, 2025, Hurston’s family, fans, and scholars gathered on Barnard’s campus to discuss her work and legacy.
“Hurston was bold and supremely confident that she was destined for greatness,” said Monica L. Miller, Professor and Chair of the Africana Studies Department. “Her time at Barnard was both a confirmation of her talent as a writer and as one of the first trained anthropologists, and it was also a trial of racism and classism, familiar to first-generation students of color everywhere.”
Barnard will continue to honor 100 years of Black students with a robust programming lineup over the next three years, from public lectures and exhibitions to student-led projects and creative performances.
Upcoming Events:
Lewis-Ezekoye Distinguished Lecture, February 20
Acclaimed author and Barnard alum Edwidge Danticat ’90 will deliver a keynote lecture, “‘All Geography Is Within Me’: Following in Zora Neale Hurston’s Travel-Dusted Tracks,” exploring Hurston’s journey across cultures and disciplines. The lecture will conclude with a Q&A session.
Location: Event Oval, The Diana Center, Barnard College
Time: 6:00 PM
“In gathering each year, we as founders of the lecture join the Barnard community in reaffirming our commitment to honoring and respecting the contributions of those that descended from the continent of Africa,” said Denise Lewis ’66, co-founder of the lecture. “We demonstrate with the Barnard community our openness to acknowledging all cultures that are part of the human family—the human family that includes Africa and peoples of color across the globe. As founders, we are so proud that our Barnard College has led the way in showcasing the scholarship of people of color.”
“This is an immensely important year for scholarship at Barnard. Professor Danticat will center us as we celebrate the indelible contribution of our first Black graduate Zora Neale Hurston, and we will continue in the coming months to celebrate the legacy left over 100 years by Black graduates who contributed to enriching the fabric and soul of this College,” said Adaeze Otue Ezekoye ’66, co-founder of the lecture. “It is significant that Professor Danticat hails from one of the places that Zora Neale Hurston visited as a participant observer anthropologist!”
“Black, Brilliant, and Free” at Barnard Library, January 21 - May 5
An immersive exhibition by interdisciplinary artist and literary scholar OlaRonke Akinmowo, founder of the Free Black Women’s Library. The installation explores freedom, self-expression, and identity through Hurston’s lens. Location: Barnard Library, Milstein Center, second floor
Workshops and Talks: Akinmowo and Barnard Library will host a two-part series on using Dust Tracks on a Road as a model for personal storytelling.
The Zora Neale Hurston Book Search: Read, Discover, Share
In honor of the Centennial, Barnard has hidden copies of Hurston’s books across campus. Find one, snap a photo where you discovered it, and tag @BarnardCollege on social media to be featured.
ABOUT BARNARD COLLEGE
Barnard provides a singular educational experience, as a world-renowned college focused on excellence across the arts and sciences, with all the academic resources of Columbia University and the City of New York as an extended classroom. Founded in 1889, Barnard was one of the few colleges in the nation where women could receive the same rigorous and challenging education available to men. Today, Barnard is one of the most selective academic institutions in the country and remains devoted to empowering extraordinary women to become even more exceptional.
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