English alumna reflects on the power and realizations of meeting Jesmyn Ward, one of her literary and personal role models

By Jalonii Agnew

During the Spring 2024 semester, I had the privilege of listening to award-winning author and educator Jesmyn Ward, not once but twice in the same day, as she addressed undergraduate and graduate students about her work.

Jesmyn Ward is the picture of almost everything I hope to be: a black woman from a poor background who managed to make a name for herself in the literary world based on the quality of her work.

Attending the two Opening Nights events on March 18 was a jarring experience for me because I had built this woman to be much more than her name. More than her work even. I am not sure what I expected. Perhaps a larger-than-life figure who managed to embody all the hopes and dreams I have been clinging to since I was a child.

I figured Ward, who also is a professor of English and Andrew W. Mellon professor in the humanities at Tulane University, would radiate the endless confidence I expected from accomplished authors. Surety would be oozing through her pores, and she would move as if she had life figured out. As if somehow once she became a published author, she would have no real problems in life.

I could not have been more wrong.

She was startling and overwhelmingly human. I remember being shocked at how soft-spoken she seemed. She was confident but careful with her word choice. Despite the necessity of her being outspoken during the events held in her honor, she was a bit reserved.

She also was incredibly humble, willing to answer any questions asked but equally willing to keep whatever did not need to be said to herself. And I am so grateful she was nothing like I imagined her to be.

Seeing her, listening to her words, and understanding her experiences fostered a new reassurance within me. Her humanity made it easy for me to relate to her, and even though Ward has accomplished much more than I could hope to accomplish, she sounded almost as uncertain about the world and the future as the people in her audience.

For one of the events, Ward taught a masterclass at the historic Heritage Museum at Dodd Hall for students in the Department of English. Students and professors were in attendance, and English-Creative Writing Associate Professor Skip Horack was the facilitator.

Her teaching was a reminder that life never stops just because you accomplish your goals. You do not become immune to criticism because your work has gained notoriety.

Ward was down to earth and self-aware, which made it easier to understand how she can write from the point of view of characters who often deal with the strife and misfortune that falls upon marginalized groups. She writes from her own experience, and she is a better writer because she has that perspective.

In all honesty, I attended both the Dodd Hall class and her lecture that night at Opperman Music Hall to understand how she became so successful. Hearing her speak, however, was indicative enough. Ward's work ethic was constant while attending university and her background fosters her drive and desire to do justice to those she writes about.

Again, for the talk at Opperman, she was eloquent and well spoken, mindful of her audience and the heavy themes her books not only explore but the ones they imply as well. Understanding why someone with Ward’s intelligence and kindness has been able to achieve so much in her industry is easy.

What made the experience even more worthwhile and rewarding for me, despite not having any of my questions answered, was the realization that I could see myself in her position. Meeting people who have realized the dreams you hold dear is important, because in doing so, those dreams seem even more possible.

I greatly hope to reach a fraction of Jesmyn Ward’s professional success.

Jalonii Agnew recently graduated from FSU with her bachelor's degree in English-Editing, Writing, and Media major, with a minor in communication.

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