William & Mary Juneteenth Commemoration on June 16th, 2023 Events Open to the Public Starting at 3 pm
William & Mary Juneteenth Commemoration – William & Mary is joining communities around the country to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the United States. William & Mary will celebrate Juneteenth at the site of Hearth: Memorial to the Enslaved at 3 p.m. The event is expected to include performers, vendors, and more. Additional activities and vendors will be available throughout the evening.
Program:
- Land acknowledgement, read by Kenneth Ferguson ‘24
- Statement on slavery and its legacies, read by Kennedy Byrd ’26
- Oratory reading by Bettina Ross
- Welcome by Chon Glover, W&M Chief Diversity Officer
- Remarks by Barb Ramsey, City of Williamsburg Council Member
- “What is Juneteenth?” by Ghana Smith, W&M Financial Systems Specialist
- “The Food of Juneteenth” by Andre Taylor, W&M Oral Historian
- Elegba Folklore Society performance
- Poetry reading by Shawna Allston ‘24
- Musical selection by Kendall Gonzales
- Poetry reading by Ethan Stewart ‘25
- Musical selection by Lisa Williamson
Additional activities and vendors will be available throughout the evening. Visit WM Juneteenth page for more information. Visit Juneteenth 2023 events page on Williamsburg Families for Williamsburg and surrounding town’s events for Juneteenth.
