Mules and Men

Mules and Men; with an Introduction by Franz Boas; 10 Illustrations by Miguel Covarrubias
Zora Neale Hurston
J.B. Lippincott Co., 1935
Southern Civilization Collection
Vanderbilt University Special Collections

As one of the first African American anthropologists, Hurston’s work in Mules and Men delivered a groundbreaking approach which combined academic rigor with personal immersion.  Her work challenges traditional anthropological methods and highlights the importance of insider perspectives to capture the cultural traditions of communities.  Mules and Men provides valuable insights into the beliefs and social dynamics of African American communities in the early 20th century. It gives readers a deep understanding of the resilience, creativity, and ingenuity of these communities in the face of adversity.