Criteria For The Labelling Of Smes - 1185 Words

on the criteria set by a particular country. The criteria for the categorization of SMEs can be scaled by looking at the company’s turnover sales, some countries look at the number of employees in the business and there are countries which perceived SMEs based on mixed criteria. In addition, global organization entities such as European Commission and World Bank also have their own views on how to identify SMEs. The European Commission states that â€Å"the criterion of the number of staff as the main criterion, however, introducing a financial criterion is nonetheless a necessary adjunct in order to grasp the real scale and performance of an enterprise and its position compared to its competitors† (European Commission: 2003, item 4). Figure 1.0 below is an illustration of SMEs definition by the European Commission. Figure 1.0: European Commission definitions on SMEs Sourced: European Commission (2005) According to Independent Evaluation Group (2008), the following quantitative criteria to identify SMEs are incorporated by The World Bank; Total assets in USD, annual sales in USD and number of employees. A particular business must met the manpower criteria and at least on financial based scale in order to be defined as SMEs. Figure 1.1 below shows the categorization made by World Bank. Figure 1.1: World Bank definition on SMEs Sourced: Independent Evaluation Group (2008) All countries in the world have the sovereignty to define SMEs based on their own business landscapeShow MoreRelatedBatik1438 Words   |  6 Pagesspecifies the raw materials to be used, the definitions of terms related to batik and its weaving process, basic design layout, care methods, quality criteria, marking and labelling of Malaysian Batik. Through the implementation of this standards, the Stars Tailor can reduce costs and increase quality of our products. As a small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), effective use of standards can provide a means of standing up to bigger businesses and allow Stars Tailor to benefit from the investment. Read MoreThe Transatlantic Trade And Investment Partnership3935 Words   |  16 Pagesto introduce a new labeling legislation. To address these concerns at the European level, new EU food labelling rules have come into force this Saturday, 13 December, 2014. The aim is to ensure that consumers receive clearer and more accurate information about what they buy and eat. 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ISO creates and maintain universal standards since 1947. It has been able to publish over 19 500 global criteria including nearly every facets of technology and trade. It includes sectors such as computers, food safety, healthcare, agriculture and etc. Global rules of ISO guarantee that goods and services are harmless, consistent and quality. ISO introducesRead MoreRed Bull Marketing Analysis9152 Words   |  37 Pagesmust also be approved. Must appear on the can make, identification number, a list of medicinal ingredients and non-medicinal use or for the recommended dose and duration of use, risk information, standards for storage. In addition to checking the labelling, advertising agencies ensure that the product is not faulty. For example, regarding the libelling for a product to display a reference to energy source, it must provide at least 100 calories per serving. In other words, after a year of investigationRead MoreGlobal Trends in Hospitality7741 Words   |  31 Pagesand in the future new build hotels are more likely to be well designed from an operations perspective. New build hotels in mature markets are likely to be designed to ll product/market niches that have not yet been exploited. There are ve basic criteria: location (see above), market segment, room design, grade, and type of stay. The Holiday Inn concept was originally designed as a roadside property, serving the travelling leisure segment, with a standard room, in the middle price range, used mainlyRead MoreEu - History, Policies and Facts5310 Words   |  22 PagesSingle European Act was signed. In 1990, after the fall of the Iron Curtain, the former East Germany became part of the Community as part of a newly united Germany. With enlargement towards Eastern and Central Europe on the agenda, the Copenhagen criteria for candidate members to join the European Union were agreed. 1993–2011 Main articles: History of the European Union (1993–2004) and History of the European Union (2004 onwards) The introduction of the euro in 2002 replaced several nationalRead MoreLife Cycle Check17328 Words   |  70 Pagesserving as the initial screening thus allowing for focusing the work and saving a lot of time. 5 Aim of the Guide The aim of this Guide is to support and guide the work of performing a Life Cycle Check, and it is especially targeted towards SMEs. The Guide also serves as educational material for introductory courses on LCA. The user of the Guide must have a technical or chemical background or knowledge corresponding to an engineer or equal education. Some knowledge of environmental issuesRead MoreBackground Inditex, One of the Worlds Largest Fashion Distributors, Has Eight Major Sales Formats - Zara, Pull and Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius, Oysho, Zara Home Y Kiddys Class- with 3.147 Stores in 70100262 Words   |  402 Pagesversus process dimension is relevant when it comes to methods of interorganisational verification. However, this only applies when the product-related criteria can be verified by inspecting the delivered product, and this is often not the case. Since environmental product criteria often involves process-related requirements, verification of these criteria still has to be made on-site, by the focal company and/or by a third party service provider. Therefore I cannot say that I have found significant support

Essay on Aristotles Notion on Eudaimonia and Virtue

In Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics he accounts that humans should make sacrifices and should ultimately aim first and foremost for their own happiness . In the paper I will argue that it is really in a person’s best interest to be virtuous . I will do this by first describing Aristotle’s notion on both eudaimonia and virtue , as well as highlighting the intimate relationship between the two . Secondly I will talk about the human role in society. Thirdly I will describe the intrinsic tie between human actions . Finally I will share the importance of performing activities virtuously . The central notion of Aristotle is eudaimonia or â€Å"happiness† which is best translated as a flourishing human life . Happiness is a complete and sufficient†¦show more content†¦However , acting virtuous is the mean to becoming virtuous . There are conditions for virtue which consist of , having the appropriate inner state , taking pleasure in what your doing , doing it for certainty and firmness , and being aware of what you are dong . If a person performs a virtuous act without the right intentions the act is not longer virtuous . Virtue is acquired through habituation , making or becoming accustom or use to something . A person is not born with virtue , but by nature is capable of achieving and perfecting virtue . The way in which a person habituates virtue is by practicing virtuous acts and initiating virtue at a young age . â€Å"Happiness is the highest good, being a realization and perfect practice of virtue, which some can attain, while others have little or none of it...† (Aristotle) . The relationship between virtue and happiness have an close and personal relationship . Virtue is necessary for eudaimonia but it is not sufficient for eudaimonia . Aristotle believes that virtue is most important to eudaimonia , because eudaimonia involves activity which is exhibiting excellence or virtue . Eudaimonia will be gained when something is developed properly . To exhibit something well one must do it with excellence ; therefore eudaimonia is dependent on virtue . In order to live a happy life a person must be virtuous , and in order to be virtuous someone must act in the right way and live by the right sort of reasons . ForShow MoreRelatedAristotle And Aristotle On Friendship1480 Words   |  6 PagesIn work his work The Nicomachean Ethics Aristotle addresses the question: what is the good life? Aristotle acknowledges that the generally accepted notion of the human good is happiness or, alternatively put, eudaimonia. The difficulty surrounding the age old question, and the topic that Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics primarily addresses, is not what we call the human good, but rather how happiness is defined and what contributes to a good, eudaimonic, flourishing life. Aristotle writes that happinessRead More Aristotles Doctrine of the Mean Essay1017 Words   |  5 PagesAristotles Doctrine of the Mean When we consider the questions of how we ought to live our lives, we often seek for some schematic that we can employ to help us categorize actions or qualities as good, bad, or indifferent. Such a means of organization would indeed make it easier to determine what the right thing to do is. Aristotle once attempted to formulate a similar plan. His ethics used a scheme by which characteristics could be measured and the right amount attained. Such an account isRead MoreAristotles Theory of the Good Life968 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Aristotle, the good life is the happy life, as he believes happiness is an end in itself. In the Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle develops a theory of the good life, also known as eudaimonia, for humans. Eudaimonia is perhaps best translated as flourishing or living well and doing well. Therefore, when Aristotle addresses the good life as the happy life, he does not mean that the good life is simply one of feeling happy or amused. Rather, the good life for a person is the active lifeRead More Aristotle and the Doctrine of the Mean Essay1436 Words   |  6 Pagesthrough the embracement of virtues. Aristotle believes that virtues are the mean of two vices. This is the basis of the Aristotelian â€Å"Doctrine of the Mean†. This paper will explore the basis of the Doctrine of the Mean, its connections to Eudaimonia, and its success or lack thereof. Eudaimonia is a Greek word whose meaning can be translated several ways. These include happiness, the success of life’s activities, prosperity, and the act of the thriving. Eudaimonia is used as a noun. Read More Ethics and Moral Reasoning Essay2112 Words   |  9 PagesAristotles Virtue Ethics Aristotle in his virtue ethics states that a virtuous individual is someone with ideal traits. These characteristic traits normally come from an individual’s innate tendency but should be cultivated. After they are cultivated, these character traits supposedly become stable in an individual. Moral consequentilaists and deontologists are normally concerned with universal doctrines that can be utilized in any situation that requires moral interpretation. Unlike these theoristsRead MoreAristotle s Notions Of Virtues Essay2018 Words   |  9 PagesAristotle’s notions of virtues are the heart of the subject matter in Aretaic Ethics. The concept of Aretaic ethics comes from the Greek word â€Å"arete† which translates as human excellence or excellence of character, virtue (Virtue Ethics, 2013). Virtue ethics emphasizes being a certain person with certain quality of character. Its basic concept is that the virtue or value of the actions is not in the act itself, rathe r it is in the heart of the actor. Though it may seem not overly compatible withRead MorePlato s The Nicomachean Ethics2113 Words   |  9 PagesNicomachean Ethics, Aristotle presents the reader with a guide to living a good life. He claims the â€Å"highest good† is happiness, and the way to obtain it is through the use of reason. In order to better comprehend Aristotle’s ideas regarding happiness, we will explain his conception of eudaimonia and excellence through rational activity. Then, we will examine this concept of rational activity in relation to the aristotelian concept of self-sufficiency. At the end of the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle offersRead MoreVirtue Theory. I.Ethics/Virtue Theory As It Applies To1159 Words   |  5 PagesVirtue Theory I. Ethics/Virtue theory as it applies to business The form of applied ethics that examines ethical principles and moral or ethical problems that arise in a business environment in known as business ethics. It applies to all components of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of entire organizations as well as individuals. These ethics originate from the individuals. An organization is formed from individuals; therefore, the organization’s ethical standards can be tracedRead MoreAristotle And Hobbes : A Comparison Of Human Nature1641 Words   |  7 Pagesfirst half of this paper, I will discuss the ways in which Aristotle’s and Hobbes’ conception of human nature differ from one another. In a discussion of equality, I will compare Aristotle’s view of the flexibility of man’s nature, to Hobbes’ view of the intransigence of man in the state of nature, while also comparing Aristotle’s view of collectivity, to Hobbes’ view of individualism. The second half of my paper will argue that Aristotle’s teleological view of human nature presents a more superiorRead MoreWhat Is Human Flourishing And Why Should We Care? Essay1874 Words   |  8 Pageswell-known for his logic, reasoning and emphasize on the importance of human life. He believed that the purpose of life was to flourish and have earthly happiness, also referred to as Eudaimonia (Heinaman). Aristotle called this concept human flourishing. He believed that humans could seek human flourishing by using their virtues. Aristotle believed that flourishing was a process, not simply a state (Crespo and Mesurado). To obtain happiness, Aristotle believed that humans needed to be in a continual

Insurance Industry

Question: Write about insurance industry in GANA or other country and use all of the material elements. Answer: Introduction The word insurance means safeguard against financial loss. An industry which provides insurance is known as insurance industry. The insurance market of Ghana has a potential growth for the life and non life market. The insurance industry is the fastest growing industry in Ghana. It is not easy to run an insurance industry it requires proper planning. An industry acquires resource and hires people by directing, decision making, controlling, and planning. The Ghana insurance industry has the capability and the proper market to grow. The Ghana insurer association has been formed with the vision that they will focus on the insurance industry growth and also they will make the insurance industry rise economically. The insurance industry of Ghana followed the rules of the national insurance commission (NIC). The manager plays an important role in industry. The managerial accounting is a proper step for that. With the help of managerial accounting it provide decision making and planning inf ormation, it also assist manager in directing activities, to motivate employees in accomplishing the goals and assess the organization competitive position. The balance scorecard approach is also used which include the four goals i.e. financial perspective, customer perspective, operations perspective and innovation perspective. For starting the industry of insurance a line position and staff position is needed. It is also required to raise capital for this a treasurer is required. A treasurer is required to supervise relationship with financial institution, work with the investors, investment managing and establishment of policies that are related to credit. The internal auditor is required for evaluating the procedures of accounting, records and reports related to controller, as well as treasurer area of responsibility (Adams, 2012). The beginning of the year saw the national insurance commission increases its efforts by raising the insurer minimum capital requirements from GHS5m to GHS15m. in addition to this the capital adequacy ratio increased from 130 percent to 140% in the mid 2016. With the help of capital the industry will operate with some level of efficiency, get the right software, and employ the right people, so that can do the right job. More than 50 companies are working in the insurance industry of Ghana they are divided into life, non-life and three reinsurers. Ghana insurance industry The national insurance commission was established by the insurance act, 2006. The objective of national insurance commission is to enable proper strategy, handling and controlling the insurance industry. The national insurance commission also take care of insurance industry and the policyholders.(Feldman,2006)The national insurance commission takes care of the insurance industry in the Ghanaian market whether they are financial sound and thus the policyholders are confident to invest in the insurance. To fulfill the objective the NIC has also taken number of steps for sustaining the human resource base, to enable the insurance company to be financially strong and taking care that the insurance industry following the rules enacted by the government. The NIC also take care of the policyholders i.e. whether the policyholders purpose of taking the policy is fulfilled. Now the national insurance commission is under the supervision of 26 non-life insurance companies, 19 life insurance comp anies, 2 reinsurance companies, 1 reinsurance broker, 63 insurance broking companies, 1 loss adjuster and 4500 insurance agents. There is one way to be crystal clear in this form of market is to enhance the awareness of the public. The primary important in insurance or any industry is the customer service. Insurers should take steps and identify the areas which are more vulnerable (Adams, 2012). The insurers analyze the reasons for underperformance and take steps so that insufficient service delivery is arrested. The Ghana insurance industry comprises of 18 lives and 23 non life insurance companies. The industry is controlled by the non life segments that lead to 48.8 % of the total gross written premium. Ghana allows 60 percent foreign direct investment in the insurance industry. The insurance industry of Ghana adhere with the laws, regulations, applicable standards and present a clean and clear report so that a competitive environment is seen in this industry. Whatever steps they take for the industry are kept confidential such as they dont disclose the confidential information unless they are obliged to do so (Stark et. al, 2010). Role of Cost Management The cost management system should also play an important part in insurance industry. It identifies and eliminates non value added cost. It also identifies new activities that can improve performance. It does the whole process starting with acquiring the raw material, research and development, product design, production, marketing decision, distribution and customer service. The insurance industry believes in competence, confidentiality, integrity, objectivity and resolution of ethical conflict (Adams, 2012). In Ghana the enforcement step include new capital requirement, compulsory products, including coverage for commercial properties against fire, flooding and earthquake. In Ghana the national insurance industry enacted no premium and therefore no coverage rules which strengthen the capital base. Even some companies offer the coverage on credit basis also. Profit level The level of profit is defined according to the return of assets of insurance industry in Ghana. It is rightly said that higher the returns of industry return of assets the better will be insurance industry profitability. The insurance firm return on assets will yield maximum return from assets i.e. 30.70 percent. The people may think once when they invest in insurance. They take a financial decision for a while to invest in other than insurance industry (Miescher, 2005). Even the management accountants consider the notion off opportunity cost for the purpose of decision making. In an insurance industry there is various type of cost such as direct and indirect cost. Leverage has been defined as the total debts divided by total assets. This is one of the determinants variables of profitability of insurance industry of Ghana. The leverage ranges from 4.37 percent to 97.64 percent. But some of the insurance industry can run a debt of 40.84 percent of the total assets. It indicates that insurance industry are lowly geared or leveraged and this help in attracting more clients in Ghana and thus it will make high profit level. Risk and competition In the insurance industry of Ghana there are lot of competition and risk. It appears that the people are not patronizing insurance in Africa due to various reasons. People are relax to go without insurance because when they see the kind of stress people go through before claiming their claims , it does not encourage them to take insurance policy. There should be proper education on insurance which should be taken into consideration. The government of Ghana must broaden the laws on insurance by adding more too motor insurance. The insurance company has put a great effort in the aspect of security to development of the Ghanaians economy. Most of the Ghanaians are still relax to take insurance because there are lots of benefits in it. The difficulty nature of insurance industry towards the payment of claims makes it unattractive for third party insurers to undertake insurance policy. If there is an increase in fraud in an insurance industry then the whole money of the policyholders will be driven away from the industry. (Falola Salm, 2002). There are various bancassurance offerings which are in the rise in the Ghana insurance industry. A growing number of insurers and banks have joined forces to offer policies through banking windows; more than 20 banks have already been granted licenses to offer bancassurance products. Activity based costing For an accurate allocation if insurance cost activity based costing is the best approach. The activity based costing is used by service companies like insurance companies also. Though this activity based costing was used by manufacturing companies previously but now it is used by both of the companies. The main purpose of using this approach here is to give accurate and reliable information regarding cost which will be helpful for decision making and it is also helpful for a cost reduction and improving profit valuation. Activity based costing provide an exact information and also analyze the area where the chances of profitability are more. (Peter, 2007). The insurance industries managers focus on the insurance contracts and bring a change on the investment of resources in which there is zero return so that profitability increases in this type of industry. Management of insurance industry tries to enhance the profitability in two aspect by stressing on insurance contracts and by mod ifying the activities that are non-value added. For application of activity based costing in an industry three main factors to keep in mind are the companys activities, cost drivers for individual activity and objects of cost. The potential drivers for activities in insurance industry are for activity related to market research, production creation, policy making activity, claim estimation and inspection, legal action cost drivers labor hours is used, for activity related to market printing number of printings is the cost drivers etc. Though there is lot of disadvantage in activity based costing that is it is hard to collect the data for activity based costing, failure to identify excess capacity. Even accurate figure cannot be identified with the help of activity based costing. The costing that is based on time can identify an accurate figure as contrast to activity based costing. The costing that is based on time help to identify the labor hours and working time accurately. In the insurance industry activity based costing can provide management with information regarding costs of activities, products, services, customers, distribution channels etc. (Hennock, 2007). Cost drivers that are applied in the case of activity based costing system are mostly working time or as per claims or applications. The insurance contract or policies, customers and sales channels are the cost object in insurance industries. It is expected that the total premium in Ghana insurance industry will grow by 23.9 percent compared to 16.4 percent in USD terms. The multinational insurers are increasingly taking note for growing The prudential investment partner of Ghana that is Leapfrog investments announced in 2016 that they will launch an USD350mm fund to invest in life insurance industry of Ghana in the next 3 to 5 years. Currently Leapfrog acquired a major chunk in Ghana firm UT Life Insurance Company. Ghana life insurance industry enhanced by 34 percent. Even the insurance industry of Ghana follow just in time approach for more throughput, lower operating expenses, an enhancement in the product or quality of service, less work in process, better response time and better performance considering the due date. Insurance industry use financial modeling concept which is considered as the complex model to value assets, liabilities and capital requirement, consider different financial options and evaluate differen t capital and other resource allocation. In an insurance industry sunk cost make the decision makers confused (David, 2011). These are the costs which are already incurred and no current action can change it. It will remain same. Liquidity is also an important factor in an insurance industry of Ghana. According to the statistic insurance industry current assets pay their current liabilities 0.42 times and maximum 5.11 times. But the variability of insurance industry will not be increased above 4.66 times. The dispersion of current assets to current liability is 1.57 times. Insurance industries are able to use their current asset to generate profit. Even in an insurance industry whether the particular cost and revenue are relevant for decision making depends on decision context. Manager should always focus on the cost and revenue (Alborn, 2009). The costs which remain same regardless of decision making are not relevant for decision making. Planned structure For a planned a secured future focus is in profit from insurance industry. It is an opportunity for providing individuals and groups to contribute moneys to various schemes for a better future. The market will more grow in the near future with the enactment of National pension Act, 2008 which is mandatory three tier pension scheme. The first tier national security which deal in social security, as well as national security trust benefits that are compulsory for every employee in public, as well as private sector (Alborn, 2009). The occupational pension scheme is considered as the second tier that is managed privately and it gives higher benefits, it is compulsory for all employees. The third tier is voluntary provident fund and personal pension scheme. Conclusion To address the challenges faced by the insurance industry of Ghana the insurance agents and marketers trained in such a way that the terms and policy should be well explained so that the client can take decision by understanding the policies in a proper manner. The Ghana insurance association has been set up with the vision and mission to provide proper information to the insurers. Even it builds reputation and excellence for insurers. The new act will help in regular inspection, licensing and appropriate sanction against defaulting companies. Therefore, the industry an operate with ease and flexibility when the management is strong and policies have a strong base. There are certain deficiencies in the industry that have crippled the smooth functioning and it is high time for the management to consider the loopholes and deficiencies (Grant, 2008). The insurance industry also depends upon the economy as a whole. If the people have a high standard of living then the insurance industry is sure to receive a boost otherwise there will be a lacking point. References Adams, J 2012, The impact of changing regulation on the insurance industry, viewed 5 June 2016 Alborn, T 2009, Regulated Lives: Life Insurance and British Society, Toronto Press David, R 2011, IF1 Insurance, Legal Regulatory, Chartered Insurance Institute Falola, T and Salm, S.J 2002, Culture and Customs of Ghana, Greenwood. Feldman, G. D 2006, Allianz and the German Insurance Business. Grant, R 2008, Globalizing City: The Urban and Economic Transformation of Accra, Ghana: Syracuse University Press. Hennock, E. P 2007, The Origin of the Welfare State in England and Germany, Social Policies Compared. Miescher, S. F 2005, Making Men in Ghana, Indiana University Press Peter E.R 2007, Various, Ghana: An African Portrait Revisited Squires, G.D 2003, Racial Profiling, Insurance Style: Insurance Redlining and the Uneven Development of Metropolitan Areas, Journal of Urban Affairs, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 391410 Stark, A.; Kleer, C.G.; Martin, I; Awuah, B; Nsiah-Asare, A; Takyi, V; Braman, M; Quayson, S 2010, Cancer vol. 116, no. 21, pp. 49264932

Zora Neale Hurston

Introduction Zora Neale Hurston was a proclaimed novelist, folklorist, and anthropologist whose artistic contribution in the Harlem renaissance was outstandingly evident. She was the fifth-born child to John Hurston, a Baptist preacher and a carpenter, and Lucy Potts Hurston, a schoolteacher. Zora Neale Hurston was born in Notasulga, Alabama on January 7, 1891.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Zora Neale Hurston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The family relocated to â€Å"Eatonville, Florida, which was the first all-Black town to be incorporated in the United States, while she was still a toddler† (Ellis, 2009, p.20). They were eight children in the family. As Hurston later glorifies in her literary works, the town was the first to offer African Americans the chance to live freely and independent of the Whites, as they desired. This assertion is depicted in most of her fictional works, as it is t he setting for most of her stories. Her father later on became the mayor of the town. Despite the fact that the actual birth year of Zora Neale Hurston was in 1891, 1901 became the year of her birth throughout her life. There was a significant happening in her life that year, which is argued as the reason behind her decision. In 1901, some schoolteachers from the north visited her hometown, and she was lucky to get some books that sparked her interest in literature (Baym, 2003, p.11). In-Depth Look into the Life of Zora Neale Hurston In an essay she wrote in 1928 titled â€Å"How It Feels to Be Colored Me†, Hurston describes her childhood in Eatonville as easy considering that she grew surrounded by the people who supported her, and the discrimination that was taking place elsewhere was not a reality in her hometown. This, however, changed in 1904 when her mother died and the father remarried soon afterwards to a young lady named Matte Moge (Ellis, 2009, p.22). There were rum ors that Zora Neale’s father Mr. Hurston had an affair with Moge even before the wife died. Zora had a rough time living with the father and step- mother and later she was sent to a boarding school in Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Hurston stopped paying his daughter’s school fees, and after a while, the school had to send her home. She worked as a barmaid for a while before joining the Gilbert Sullivan travelling troupe where she worked as a maid to the lead artist (Jones, 2009, p. 12).Advertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Her desire to accomplish her education led her to cut ten years off her actual age in order to qualify for the free public schooling. She then joined the high school division of the Morgan College in Baltimore, Maryland. From that time henceforth, she started claiming 1901 to be her year of birth. Hurston graduated from Morgan Academy in the year 191 8. Hurston joined Howard University in 1918 where she co-founded the University students’ newspaper named â€Å"The Hilltop† and later on graduated from the University with an Associate’s degree. While in Howard, Hurston took Spanish, English, Greek, and some courses in public speaking. After successfully applying by writing an essay, Hurston got the chance to join Alaine Locke’s literary club named ‘The Stylus’. Hurston left Howard â€Å"later on in 1924 and the following year she got a scholarship to join the white dominated Barnard College† (Hemenway, 1977, p.45). She studied anthropology, and it is here where she met Franz Boas of Columbia University as she assisted him in conducting ethnographic studies. She graduated in 1927 aged thirty-six with a B.A in anthropology. Hurston lived for extra two years in Columbia after graduating from Barnard (Ellis, 2009, p.20). As an adult, Hurston married a former schoolmate at Howard named He rbert Sheen. Sheen was a jazz musician and later on became a physician. The marriage, however, did not last long as they separated four years later. Hurston remarried again at the age of thirty-nine while she was working at WPA, this time to a colleague at WPA who happened to be twenty-three years younger than she was (Hemmenway 1977, p.13). The marriage did not last a year. In the 1930s, Hurston lived in Westfield, New Jersey, where she was a neighbor to the famous Black poet, Langston Hughes. Hurston wrote numerous short stories, folklore books, plays, novels and essays throughout her life. In 1934, Hurston established a school of dramatic arts that was based on â€Å"pure negro expression† at Bethune- Cookman College now Bethune Cookman University. The English department in the University is consequently committed to preserving her legacy. In her life, Hurston travelled a lot both within the United States and outside (Boyd, 2003, p. 47).Advertising We will write a cus tom research paper sample on Zora Neale Hurston specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More For inside, during her anthropology research, she travelled to the Caribbean and South American and the works that came, as a result, are ‘Mules and Men’ in 1935 which was a folklore classic and the materials she later used to write the novel Jonah’s Gourd Vine which was published in 1934. Later in her life, Hurston worked in the North Carolina College for Negroes, which is now North Carolina Central University College. In 1948, Hurston was a victim of a character assassination conspiracy. She was falsely accused of molesting a young boy, but she was later cleared when the claims were found as falsehood. The scandal negatively affected her social life afterwards. The last decade of her life was marked by hardships as she worked as a freelance writer for magazines and newspapers, and later at the Am Technical Library at the Patrick Air Force Base. She later on moved to Fort Pierce where she allegedly worked as a part-time teacher and maid (Ellis, 2009, p. 15). Hurston’s last years were marked by both financial and health difficulties. She was consequently admitted at the St. Lucie County Welfare Home where she died of hypertensive heart disease on January 28, 1960 aged sixty-nine years. Contributions were conducted to give her a decent burial, but the money raised was not enough; consequently, she ended up being buried in an â€Å"unmarked grave in the Garden of Heavenly Rest in Fort Pierce† (Kaplan, 2003, p.89). Five years later, Alice Walker, a young African American woman later who acknowledged Hurston as her source of inspiration and a literary scholar, Charlotte Hunt found the grave and marked it in her remembrance (Boyd, 2003, p.12). Zora Neale Hurston’s and the Harlem Renaissance It was during the 1920’s when Hurston began to participate actively in activities that could be regar ded as part of the Harlem Renaissance. The Harlem Renaissance is considered the most famous period in the African American culture. It is recorded as having been between the years 1916 and 1940 (Jones, 2009, p. 23). It is during this period when the Negro movement and the age of the black stars developed.Advertising Looking for research paper on biography? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During this period, â€Å"black artists broke away from the literary and other artistic movements that were shaped by whites in pursuit of a uniquely black culture that sought to bring a sense of pride to the black race† (Kraut, 2003, p. 87). Literary works, music, and fine arts were among the sweeping artistic expressions of the period. By the time Hurston arrived in New York, the Harlem Renaissance had climaxed and she easily integrated into the system. Her charm and talent enabled her to become one of the writers at the center of the Renaissance after only a short while. Before she entered Barnard College, â€Å"she wrote a short story titled ‘spunk’ that was selected for the landmark Anthology ‘The New Negro’ that was a significant publication during the renaissance† (Boyd, 2003, p. 15). As a young writer, Hurston contributed actively to the movement through her writings highlighting the issues of the Negroes. Her stories about Eatonville were acknowledged as significant forces that shaped the ideals that were being pushed by the Harlem Renaissance. In the year 1926, â€Å"together with other young black writers and poets such as Langston Hughes and Wallace Thurman who called themselves Niggerati, they produced a literary magazine called ‘Fire’ which featured almost all popular black artists of the Harlem Renaissance† (Kraut, 2003, p. 78). The Harlem Renaissance was a peculiarly creativity bolstering period for young Black artistes as they sought pride in their work. In addition, during this period, Hurston wrote most of her works that sought to uplift the Black pride and a sense of fight for the rights of the African Americans (Jones, 2009, p. 40). Together with Langston Hughes, Hurston in 1930 worked on â€Å"Mule: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts†. The play, which reveals the problems that shape the lives of African Americans, was not finished up until 1991 when it was posthumously p ublished. In 1937, Hurston got the coveted â€Å"Guggenheim Fellowship, which enabled to conduct ethnographic research in both Haiti and Jamaica†¦her text ‘Tell My Horse’ documents her findings about the rituals of Africans in Jamaica and the Voudon rituals practiced by the Africans in Haiti† (Walker, 1975, p.87). She later interpreted these findings to an artistic viewpoint whereby she came up with plays and short stories and novels such as ‘There Eyes Were Watching God’ (1937) and ‘Moses, Man of the Mountain (1939). These works are considered as crucial works that characterize the Harlem Renaissance (Hemmenway 1977, p.14). Hurston’s literary works were largely influenced by the fact that she was a folklorist. For instance, she used dialects that were characteristic of the speech patterns of the periods that she documented. This, in a way, led her work to slide into some form of obscurity in that the dialects were related to a raci st tradition. This revelation explains why, despite her many years in artistic work, she did not get enough money to sustain herself. Critics such as Richard Wright termed one of her works, ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ as not being addressed to the African American audience as she claimed but rather to the Whites (Jones, 2009, p. 64). Hurston later became an opponent to most of her peers in the Harlem renaissance considering her rigid views about civil rights during the time of the Civil Rights Movement. Hurston’s views mainly depicted her Eatonville perspective and, as a result, she faced criticism for not considering the bigger picture (Abcarian Klotz, 2003, p. 67). At that point in time, most of the African American artists had adopted the theme of racism as a major issue of concern to address in their works (Walker, 1975, p.89). Many of her peers who were close to her earlier started analyzing her works as well as her person life, which they considered as marred with controversies. Even Langston Hughes who was at a time among her closest peers started criticizing her (Kraut, 2003, p. 53). Her literary works, which once portrayed the black culture as superior and influenced many people in were regarded as irrelevant for a while. As a result, her literary appeal waned over time. In the year 1950, Hurston wrote a controversial article that attacked the right to vote of blacks in the south (Jones, 2009, p. 54). In this article, Hurston claimed that votes were being bought and that the process was not fair in any way. Later on in 1954, Hurston sunk deep into controversies when she wrote ‘Brown vs. the Board of Education of Topeka, Ks’. In this essay, she railed the segregation ruling claiming that black children did not need to go to the same schools as white children in order to receive education (Abcarian Klotz, 2003, p. 25). This angered many of the civil rights activists. The civil rights activists branded Hurston a trai tor due to her deeds, which included also writing for the â€Å"American Legion Magazine†, which was regarded as extremely right winged. She even campaigned for Senator Robert Taft of Ohio during the GOP presidential nominations of 1952 (Visweswaran, 1994, p. 34). Zora Neale Hurston’s posthumous recognition Alice Walker’s efforts to mark the grave of Hurston, and the subsequent publication of the article ‘In Search of Zora Neale Hurston’ in the ‘Ms’ magazine, in 1975, marked the beginning of the overwhelming posthumous recognition that Zora Neale Hurston received years after her death. Walker’s article revived an interest in Hurston’s works among the literary scholars and fans in the period (Kaplan, 2003, p.20). Later on, Robert Hemenway wrote Hurston’s biography titled â€Å"Zora Neale Hurston: A literary Biography†. Other Biographies of Hurston include â€Å"Wrapped in Rainbows† written by Valerie Bo yd, â€Å"Zora Neale Hurston: A Biography of the Spirit† by Debora G. Plant, and â€Å"Speak So You Can Speak Again† written by her niece, Lucy Anne Hurston. Some of her unfinished and unpublished works were later published posthumously. These include her 1930 work with Langston Hughes; ‘Mule: A Comedy of Negro Life in Three Acts’ which was posthumously published in 1991 as well as ‘Every Tongue Got to Confess’ published in 2001. The later is a book, which records the â€Å"field materials the Hurston gathered when she was conducting her research in the 1920’s which aided in writing her book ‘Mules and Men’† (Jones, 2009, p. 28). Zora Neale Hurston’s house in Fort Pierce later on became a National Historic landmark in her commemoration. It is, however, notable that â€Å"there have been efforts to restore it, and that the house is still privately owned and closed to the public â€Å"(Kaplan, 2003, p.89). The re have been recent efforts to open house to the public. In Eatonville, there is The Zora Neale Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts, which was constructed in her memory. It is in the town where Hurston developed her interest in the arts and, therefore, she is honored as among the great people of the town (Baym, 2003, p.41). Eatonville is a twenty-acre historic district, which is the setting for most of Hurston’s fictional works. In the Museum, there is the Zora Neale Hurston Trail, which correlates about sixteen historic sites with Hurston’s literary works. In a bid to provide accommodation to visiting African American artists during the time of segregation, Dr. Wells, a black physician, constructed The Orlando Well’s Built museum. African Americans who visited Orlando to either do shopping or watch performances at the nearby South Street Casino ended up residing at the facility (Jones, 2009, p. 23). During her numerous tours, Hurston spent some time in the fac ility and met other African American celebrities in the Hotel. The Hotel was declared a national Museum in artifacts and literary works produced by black artists of the time are displayed and documented respectively. As a result, the literary works of Zora Neale Hurston are displayed at the Museum. A number of annual events are organized to honor Hurston in both Eatonville and Fort Pierce. These include events such as Hattitudes, the Zora Fest in Fort Pierce, the Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts, and humanities held in Eatonville. The events celebrate her life, achievements, and legacy annually. Despite the fact that only a few of Hurston’s life artifacts remain in the community, her life lives in the pages of her stories and other literary works from generation to the next. References Abcarian, R., Klotz, M. (2003). Literature: The Human Experience (9th ed.). New York: Bedford/St. Martins. Baym, N. (Ed.). (2003). The Norton Anthology of American Literature (6th ed.). New York: W. W. Norton Co. Boyd, V. (2003). Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston. New York: Scribner. Ellis, C. (2009) Zora Hurston and the Strange Case of Ruby McCollum. Lutz, FL: Gadfly Publishing. Hemenway, E. (1977). Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Biography. Urbana, Ill: University Of Illinois Press. Jones, S. (2009). Critical Companion to Zora Neale Hurston: A Literary Reference to  Her Life and Work. New York: Facts on File. Kaplan, C. (Ed.). (2003). Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters. New York: Random House. Kraut, A. (2003). Between Primitivism and Diaspora: The Dance Performances of Josephine Baker, Zora Neale Hurston, and Katherine Dunham. The Theatre Journal, 55(3), 53-89. Visweswaran, K. (1994). Fictions of Feminist Ethnography. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. Walker, A. (1975). In Search of Zora Neale Hurston. Ms. Magazine, 74, 84-89. 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