Alumni Engagement Events

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[PAST EVENT] W&M Juneteenth Celebration

June 19, 2021
2pm
Location
Online
Access & Features
  • Open to the public
A graphic shows a circle outlined in black with Juneteenth William & Mary written on it, and the image of a bird and green, red and yellow lines within the circle

William & Mary will celebrate Juneteenth for the first time with a virtual event featuring actress Morgan McCoy among other performers and speakers. It is free and open to the public. Check the W&M Juneteenth website for more information and for a link to the event.

About Juneteenth: While not recognized as a federal holiday, the observance of June 19, 1865, as the African-American Emancipation Day — also called Freedom Day — has spread across the United States and beyond. In 2020, Juneteenth became an official Virginia state holiday. While Juneteenth celebrates freedom, it also highlights community, education and achievement in the African-American community.

About Morgan McCoy (from her website): McCoy is an actress, writer, & director who can be seen as Jesse in the box office hit “Harriet” alongside Cynthia Erivo and Janelle Monet. When not on a film set, Morgan travels the country using her unique storytelling abilities to bring to light historical truths and social justice issues. She earned APCA's Cultural Act of the Year Award and received a travel sponsorship from Academy Award Winner Louis Gossett Jr. for her 30 college multi-state tour in 2015.

Her signature show, “Evolution of a Black Girl: From Slave House to the White House,” chronicles a history of the African American woman from the 1600s to the present day. 12 riveting character portrayals include stories of Phillis Wheatley, Maggie Walker, Madam CJ Walker, Rosa Parks, Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and more. This show garnered the attention and sponsorship of Louis Gossett Jr., won APCA's Cultural Act of the Year Award, and toured at over 100 colleges.