Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chetter Galloway. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chetter, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Currently I am working on a one-man show about tennis legend Arthur Ashe titled, “Game! Set! Ashe!” The story will highlight not only his tennis career, but also his work in human rights, activism, and social justice causes after his retirement. Historical figures such as Ashe, who are either the first of their race or the only one of their races to achieve greatness in their endeavors, are always fascinating to me.

This piece will cover his experience as a person of color growing up in Virginia during the Civil Rights era and chronicle his challenges in gaining access to play tennis which was unheard of for people of his race during that time. His story is important to tell because many people outside of the tennis world are unfamiliar with Ashe or his life afterwards.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I grew up hearing my father tell stories on Sunday Road trips. One of my favorite stories he told was The Talking Skull, a West African cautionary tale where a man loses his head! So, it’s no wonder that my background is rooted heavily in the African oral tradition.

I am a graduate of East Tennessee State University with a Master of Arts degree in Storytelling. For my master’s degree project, I presented a one man show about a Black Civil War Soldier. Subsequently this presentation served as the basis for an educational school program called Free at Last, Now Let me Fly!

My career began at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA, where my love of history and stories blossomed. As a living history interpreter, I shared stories of the free and enslaved population who resided in Colonial Williamsburg during the 18th century.

My travels have taken me across the country to perform in venues such as the National Association of Black Storytellers Festival, the National Parks Service and the Smithsonian. In my spare time, I am an avid runner and enjoy creating stories while I’m running!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I pitched a story to multiple storytelling organizations for a concert where it was either rejected or passed over. Comments I received from these organizations were that it was “not ready for the stage” or just another story about substance abuse”. However, I knew there was something to it because it shows the main character’s resilience and perseverance in overcoming odds to beat their addiction. In time, I found myself sharing the story at open mic events where the audiences have been very receptive of the piece. In fact, in my continued telling of the story, it gets better with each presentation and has been quite cathartic.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The opportunity to share my art with the general public and have them make a connection through the story is most rewarding. When you tell a story and everyone in the audience can relate to it no matter what their background, it is truly magic. Having the listener tell you what they took away from the story to help them in their lives is a really special feeling.

Contact Info:

• Website: chettergalloway.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chetter.galloway/
• Other: http://kuumbastorytellers.org/chetter-galloway/

Image Credits
Rhythmic Images Photography