What is the author's style in Mules and Men by Zora Neale Hurston?

The story is written in a straightforward manner. The first part, related to folklore, has an overall upbeat, positive tone though the second part, related to hoodoo, has a darker tone. The stories are all legends, tall tales or stories of magic among the blacks. However, just beneath the surface of the stories and the happiness of the people Hurston encounters is a darker side of life for the blacks of the South.