In 1925, Zora Neale Hurston became the first Black woman to enroll at Barnard College, where she studied anthropology under the influential scholar Franz Boas. Her education at Barnard was pivotal in shaping her literary voice and anthropological perspective. Hurston's contributions to literature and culture, particularly during the Harlem Renaissance, were profoundly influenced by her academic experiences.

Zora Neale Hurston's entry into Barnard College in 1925 marked a significant moment for African American literature. Her folklore research, particularly in works like 'Their Eyes Were Watching God,' informed her poetry and prose, preserving authentic dialects and cultural narratives.