Janie
In 1939, Hurston performed "Gonna See My Long-Haired Babe" at the Federal Music Project Office in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a recording of that performance. Janie, the main character of Their Eyes Were Watching God, has notably long hair. This song may have inspired Hurston in her creation of Janie's character. Janie's hair symbolizes her beauty. In the beginning of the story, Janie's hair is one of her most noticeable qualities. All of Janie's husbands thought her hair was beautiful, but expressed their adoration for it in different ways. While many characters was envious and jealous of her hair, Janie did not put as much emphasis on it herself. She rarely regarded her hair as a source of envy, just as she rarely regarded her own beauty.
In 1939, Hurston performed "Dat Old Black Gal" at the Federal Music Project Office in Jacksonville, Florida. This is a recording of that performance. Using this song these help cover the theme of identity because the main character Janie is referred to as an older woman in the novel when she is more than that. She realizes that and becomes free from her crutches and she is able to sprout and become who she should really be instead of being a locked down only seen as that old black woman.