Meet Rae Chesny, an accomplished author, Johns Hopkins University Literary Consultant, and Zora Neale Hurston Scholar. Each year, she splits her time researching, writing about, and presenting literary great Zora Neale Hurston while writing her own titles. Rae is a 2021 Baldwin House Urban Writer in Residence. During the 33rd Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities, she served as the keynote speaker for the Zora Neale Hurston: The Storyteller and Her Town series hosted by the Eatonville Public Library and funded by the Florida Humanities Council. She returned to Central Florida during the week of Juneteenth to conduct in-place-research on Hurston, launch her children’s book entitled Zora’s Garden, and provide several programs for the Juneteenth holiday. Her poem When Zora Rises is the opening piece for The Fire Inside Anthology Vol. 2 released in 2022.
The biggest inspiration behind her work is crafting deep connection for those she serves through storytelling. No matter if Rae is sharing the life of Zora Neale Hurston with audiences of all ages or reading one of her books to them, Rae’s goal is for it to be a meaningful experience. Rae believes that fostering connection that is meaningful to the individual is what catalyzes true learning, which leads to real change.
With Ancestor Appreciation Day being celebrated on September 27th is it important for Rae to show appreciation to our ancestors. Rae tells us that moving with a spirit of gratitude for our ancestors and their journeys is truly an act of self-love. To understand this, we first must understand the fullness that self-love embodies. Really there is no “self.” We are a culmination of so many energies, experiences, and gifts. We are the living manifestation of the work and choices of our ancestors-past tense and active present tense. Rae also shared that our ancestors are a part of our “self.” The connection with them has no end. So when we show appreciation for our ancestors, we are acknowledging their vital part in our existence and giving thanks for their known and unknown contributions to our being. When we don’t honor our ancestors, we miss the deep magical connections of life that transcend time. It’s such a gift to be connected to those who have come before us. To benefit from their divine wisdom. When we actively nurture that relationship, our ancestors give guidance, a feeling of support, and so much love.
More on Rae Chesny
While working to share the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston, Rae is equally passionate about empowering children to tell their stories. In 2017, she created the Junior Storyteller Program to mentor historically underrepresented children through programming that gives them the opportunity to become published authors. Rae has been featured in American Black Journal, Michigan Chronicle, Black Enterprise, and several radio shows. Rae serves the Zora Neale Hurston Trust as the resident scholar and hosts for their new It’s All About Zora! series. She has also been appointed as the Director of the forthcoming Zora Neale Hurston Summit presented by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust.
Connect online:
Visit www.raechesny.com. For Zora’s Garden and Junior Storyteller, visit www.juniorstoryteller.com
Connect with Rae on Instagram: @raechesny
Connect with Rae on Threads: Rae Chesny
Connect with Rae on Facebook: Rae Chesny
Lynnecia S. Eley is Founder & Managing Editor of Soigne’ + Swank Magazine. She is a career-driven entrepreneur, wife, and mother. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she is an award-winning University Assistant Dean and Adjunct Professor committed to excellence, dedication, and caring for others. Known as the Confidence Doula, Lynnecia is a best-selling author and coach, a founder of Two Queens Media and Black & Ivy League, Inc. You can learn more about Lynnecia and her platforms at www.shecaninspire.com.
