ZANN NELSON

Founder and President, Righting the Record

Zann Nelson is a historical investigator, writer, and lifelong advocate for historical accuracy and social justice. She holds a Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Georgetown University, and certification as a trained mediator from the Virginia Supreme Court.

As a prolific writer, Nelson has authored more than 700 published works, including investigative columns, feature articles, brochures, book chapters, and bound documentary reports centered on American history. Her investigative journalism has earned multiple awards for excellence in reporting.

For over 40 years, Nelson has been a committed advocate for racial equity and bridge-building through history. She has produced hundreds of educational documents, plays, musical tributes, commemorative events, and historic tours—all focused on elevating African American history. In 2019, she led the successful effort to pass Virginia Senate Joint Resolution 297, the state’s formal apology for its history of lynching.

Her passion and vision for Righting the Record (RtR) are driven by community-centered projects. As she says, “It is simply not enough to talk about injustices, achievements, or significant events—we must normalize them through public and permanent formats.”

Current RtR initiatives include:

The Plaque Project: A community-based effort recognizing Black entrepreneurs during the era of segregation
The Tangled Web of the Domestic Slave Trade
Lynching in Virginia: Is There a Path to Reconciliation?

Zann also serves on the Virginia MLK Commission's Lynching Study Group, contributes to the Culpeper and Madison County African American History initiatives, is a founding member of the African American Heritage Alliance (Culpeper), and manages both the Church Street Project (Orange, VA) and the Davis Street Project (Culpeper, VA).

Most recently, she has launched a groundbreaking campaign to bring long-overdue justice to the estimated 116 victims of lynching in Virginia—offering a measure of reconciliation to descendants and healing to communities.

You can learn more about these efforts by visiting the “Projects” section in the main menu.