Evelyn Smith

Yuval Taylor’s book Zora and Langston is about these two prolific African American writers and their friendship, to be sure; but I can’t get past what the story is really about. The meddling and puppetry of their so-called “godmother”, Charlotte Osgood Mason. In spite of her alleged good intentions (and money), she taints the well of Hurston’s and Hughes’ raw talent and seemed hell bent on satisfying her lack of culture and makes these writers her specimens for a closer examination of what she doesn’t have. I loathe her for her misappropriation of her wealth for selfish gains. What a user!