The 150th Anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation: The Legacy of Black Civil War Soldiers
On Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 6:30 pm, Cheryl Wills, journalist and author of, "Die Free: A Heroic Family Tale," will present a lecture, "The 150th Anniversary of The Emancipation Proclamation: The Legacy of Black Civil War Soldiers."
Cheryl Wills' acclaimed book, "Die Free," pays homage to the storied treasure of her great-great-great grandfather, Sandy Wills, who fled his slave master (Edmund Wills) and fought valiantly as a member of the United States Colored Troops from 1863-1865. She weaves the history of slavery, migration, civil rights and institutionalized racism in America as she chronicles her family's journey, beginning in Tennessee with the birth of her great, great, great grandfather, Sandy Wills who fled slavery to fight as a soldier in the civil war. Her emotions are strong and her voice is grippingly honest as she paints a portrait of the experiences of the men and women in her family who struggled to overcome obstacles such as poverty and racism and to build a solid life based on Christian values and on the belief that they too could acquire the American dream. A book signing will follow the event.
As a woman who is part of this legacy, we are never far from hearing Willis's own reflections on the men and women in her family. Using her skills as a journalist and reporter, Wills also provides the reader with a critique of institutionalized racism and with an analysis of the coping strategies that formerly enslaved men and women have used as survival mechanisms over the decades.
About Cheryl Wills:
Cheryl Wills is an award-winning television personality for Time Warner Cable's flagship national news network, New York 1 News, based in New York City. On March 25, 2011, Cheryl Wills made history as the first journalist invited to speak inside the United Nations General Assembly Hall for the "International Remembrance of Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade." A nationally recognized public speaker, Cheryl has been tapped to host and speak at The Essence Music Festival, McDonald's Gospel Fest, The Congressional Black Caucus and The World Summit of Mayors in Senegal, West Africa.
As a television journalist, Cheryl Wills has received numerous awards for her work including New York Press Club and AP Awards, the YMCA National Black Achievers in Industry Award. Her acting work has included playing herself in television shows like NBC's "Law & Order SVU," and major motion pictures such as "Freedomland," starring Samuel Jackson, and "The Brave One," with Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard. Cheryl is also proud to be a The Founding Commander of the New York Chapter of the "Sons & Daughters of the United States Colored Troops".
Date:
February 26, 2013
Time:
6:30 PM
–
8:30 PM
College:
Medgar Evers College
Address:
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn
Building:
Academic Complex I
Room:
Edison O Jackson Auditorium
Phone:
718 804 8883
Website:
Admission:
Free