Zora Neale Hurston was a notable woman and writer of the early 20th century. Her works were thought-provoking and radical for a woman of color in the early 20th century. Her works evoked a sense of control in women of color. Hurston's work was not without ridicule; some of the ridicule came from his African-American counterparts, like Alain Locke and Richard Wright. These two ridiculed the novel Their Eyes Were Watching God and its place in the literary canon. Over the years, many professionals have argued for the need to include Hurston and his novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. However, many people have wondered which part of the canon it belongs to and which novel could teach students. Genevieve West, Gay Wilentz, Carla Cappetti, and John Lowe discuss why Hurston is relevant to teaching students in Approaches to Teaching Hurston Their eyes were looking at God and other works. There is also a theory as to why the novel should be taught. Genevieve West supported the importance of teaching Hurston in the classroom in her essay "Teaching Their Eyes Were Watching God and the Process of Canon Formation". She discussed how she approached Hurston's work and she allowed students to read reviews of Hurston's other works, such as Jonah's Gourd Vine and Mules and Men. Students learned about different aspects of Hurston’s work. They discovered “Hurston’s work is opportunistic” (22) and the students then discovered Hurston’s work “exploiting black culture for white readers” (23). Once the students discovered what others have said about the author, West gave them the opportunity to read reviews of Their Eyes, in which they discovered both positive and negative critiques of the novel. ...... middle of paper ......re Looking at God. »Approaches to Teaching Hurston Their eyes looked upon God and other works. Ed. John Lowe. New York: The Congressman of America, 2009. 54-66. Print.West, Geneviève. “Teaching in their eyes that they were looking at God and the process of the formation of the canon.” Approaches to teaching Hurston that their eyes were looking at God and other works. Ed. John Lowe. New York: The Congressman of America, 2009. 20-26. Print. Wilentz, Gay. “False gods and “Caucasian characteristics for all”: Hurston's radical vision in their eyes were watching God. » The approaches to teaching Hurston their eyes were the observation of God and other works. Ed. John Lowe. New York: Congressman of America, 2009. 27-36. Print.Wright, Richard. “Between laughter and tears”. The Reverends with Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston. New masses. October 5, 1937: 22+. Rep. In Cronin 75-76. Rep. Gates and Appiah 16-17.