Zora Neale Hurston vs. Langston Hughes: The Pleasures & Perils of Working With Friends

Coco Hill Productions

09 April 2025

Correction: An earlier version of this story cited events as having happened in 1970 that occured throughout that decade. Zora Neale Huston and Langston Hughes finally set to work writing their play but outside influences and crossed wires spell trouble for this historic pair. Starring Alicia Walters. Support this independent production and access bonus content at https://ourancestorsweremessy.supercast.com Stay in touch at ouranestorsweremessy@gmail.com Follow the show on Instagram at @ourancestorsweremessy Follow the show on TikTok @ourancestorsweremessy Learn more about the show at https://ourancestorsweremessy.com Listen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@OurAncestorsWereMessy  SOURCES Zora and Langston: A Story of Friendship and Betrayal by Yuval Taylor Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston In Search of Zora Neale Hurston by Alice Walker The Complex Literary Friendship Between Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston by Yuval Taylor Check out The Interstate Tattler digitized and stored by the New York Public Libraries Read the archives at Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture