Queen Latifah and Zora Neale Hurston

For those who don’t know, Zora Neale Hurston was a significant writer, anthropologist, and civil rights activist. While she wasn’t exactly a celebrity, she became an icon of the Harlem music and art scenes of the 30s and 40s.

Then, decades later, in the 90s, one of the biggest names in the same scene was Queen Latifah, who looks remarkably like Hurston. Latifah has since shifted her career focus from rap music to dramatic acting. She has also proven her talent in playing real-life people, like her award-winning portrayal of blues singer Bessie Smith. When we see a picture of these two striking women side by side, we can’t wait for the day Latifah will portray the trailblazing Neal-Hurston on screen.