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1. What is Zora Neale Hurston's purpose for including a photograph of a doorway just prior to the Preface of Barracoon?

The photograph of a doorway is included before the start of the narrative proper in order to symbolize the haunting and terrifying nature of places such as the one in the photograph. The photograph's caption states that the place in the picture is called the House of Slaves in French and that the doorway pictured is called the "Door of No Return" (2). It had been from a place just like this that Cudjo's whole life had been torn apart and had then taken a much different trajectory than he could have ever imagined.

2. In the Preface, Hurston states her reasons for faithfully representing Cudjo's story "without the intrusion of interpretation" (3). What does she mean?

Hurston means that she has decided to write down Cudjo's words as faithfully and as authentically as possible, a strategy that later ends up making it difficult for Hurston to find a publisher for the book. Hurston's decision was a final one, however, as she thought it of particular importance that Cudjo's words be recorded in as authentic a manner as possible.

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