In Mules and Men, Zora Neale Hurston collects and records Black folklore from the rural American South, divided into two main parts: one section featuring 70 folktales from Florida communities and another detailing her experiences with six hoodoo practitioners in New Orleans. The book includes a Glossary, Appendix, and supplemental introductions and an afterword in later editions. The book contains the use of racial slurs and epithets, including the use of the n-word.

Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston receives praise for its vivid portrayal of African American folklore and culture. Critics commend Hurston's narrative style and the rich authenticity of her ethnographic work. However, some note that the book's structure can occasionally feel disjointed. Overall, it is celebrated for its significant contribution to cultural preservation.

Readers who enjoy Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston are often intrigued by African American folklore, anthropology, and oral traditions. Fans of The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois or Beloved by Toni Morrison will appreciate Hurston's rich storytelling and cultural insights.

Informative / Mysterious / Humorous / Nostalgic / Contemplative

- Mules and Men is Zora Neale Hurston's first major folklore collection, published in 1935, showcasing her anthropological interests and extensive fieldwork in the American South.
- The book is a pioneering work in African American cultural studies, combining folklore, ethnography, and autobiography in an innovative format that reflects Hurston's unique narrative style.
- Zora Neale Hurston, who was also an anthropologist, collected the tales and songs in Mules and Men by living among Black communities in Florida and Louisiana, highlighting her immersive approach to gathering folklore.

**Zora Neale Hurston**  
An influential Black American author and anthropologist, known for her work during the Harlem Renaissance and her collection of African American folklore, particularly in her book *Mules and Men*. She researched hoodoo practices and was mentored by Franz Boas.

**Franz Boas**  
A German anthropologist and Hurston’s mentor, credited as the "father of American anthropology," known for his rejection of scientific racism and promotion of cultural relativism, which influenced Hurston's anthropological works.

**Charlotte Osgood Mason**  
A white American philanthropist and patron during the Harlem Renaissance who funded Hurston’s research for *Mules and Men* and had a contentious relationship with her due to her desire to influence the work.

**Marie Laveau**  
Known as “The Voodoo Queen of New Orleans,” she was a famous hoodoo practitioner whose legacy and mythos are explored in Hurston's research on hoodoo, maintaining a symbolic presence in the narrative.

Zora Neale Hurston

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Preface-Introduction

Mules and Men Preface-Introduction Summary & Analysis

Part 1: “Folk Tales”

Part 1, Chapters 1-3

Mules and Men Part 1, Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 4-10

Mules and Men Part 1, Chapters 4-10 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Hoodoo”

Part 2, Chapters 1-7

Mules and Men Part 2, Chapters 1-7 Summary & Analysis

Appendix-Afterword

Mules and Men Appendix-Afterword Summary & Analysis

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Mules and Men

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