Read the rest of the material in Fire!! How do Hurston's pieces compare with those of her colleagues? Are they operating under the same artistic agenda? Describe the agenda(s) that you observe. Do you find the content radical? If you were a leader of the New Negro movement, how would you evaluate or critique the work of these authors?

Consider some of the reasons for Hurston's declining popularity and alienation from the literary community. For example, read her autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road and review the history of race relations between 1920 and 1960. Discuss why some of her political views might have been unpopular, and explain why you think she came to these conclusions. What led to Hurston's unpopularity besides her stance on certain political issues? Describe the elements of "Sweat" that might have alienated her readership, and explain how the...