A Visitation of Spirits

Randall Kenan (1963-2020) was an American author born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in rural North Carolina, where he was mentored by his great-aunt and developed a love for storytelling. He graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, worked in publishing, and became a professor there, writing novels and stories blending Black Southern life with supernatural and speculative elements, notably in the fictional Tims Creek setting, while exploring themes of race, sexuality, and identity. His achievements include Guggenheim and Whiting awards, the John Dos Passos Prize, and recognition for works like the New York Times Notable Book Let the Dead Bury Their Dead.