Diversity & Inclusion Events
[PAST EVENT] AMP / Lecture Series: Born on the MOVE
Location
Sadler Center, Commonwealth Auditorium200 Stadium Dr
Williamsburg, VA 23185Map this location
Access & Features
- Open to the public
AMP Impact Committee invites you to a performance on Thursday, November 18th at 8 P.M., featuring hip hop artist and resilience speaker Mike Africa, Jr., who is a member of the MOVE Organization. This event will be hosted in Commonwealth Auditorium.
Mike is the son of 2 political prisoners who were sentenced to 100 years in prison. Mike was secretly born in a Philadelphia prison following a police raid on his family’s home. As an infant, he was taken from his mother and placed in an orphanage where he was physically and mentally abused. At age 6, he witnessed the smoke in the air from a police bomb that was dropped on his family’s home killing 11 of his family members including 5 of the children he was in the orphanage with.
At age 13, Mike began using his music to raise awareness about his experiences in the hopes of gaining justice for his family. On June 16th, 2018, after 40 years in prison, Mike finally got his mother released. Four months later on October 23rd, 2018, he was successful in gaining his father’s release.
Currently, Mike travels the country as a keynote speaker and a public speaker telling his incredible story and inspiring others with his powerful message, “Never Give Up.” Mike has shared the stage with the likes of Marc Lamont Hill, Tarana Burke, Ramona Africa, Dead Prez, Danny Glover and countless others; tackling issues such as mass incarceration, police brutality, and climate change.
Come join AMP Impact as we spend the night listening to and learning from this gifted performer! Masks must be worn and William & Mary’s most current social distancing guidelines will be followed throughout the event.
Alma Mater Productions is committed to providing universal access to all of our events. Please contact DeJah Robinson at wamamp@gmail.com with the subject “Mike Africa, Jr. Speaker Event” to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs. Your communication with us will remain confidential, as it will only be accessible to AMP Chairs, Directors, and Advisors.