April 30, 2024

Williams Helps Unveil Fredericksburg, UMW Civil Rights Trail

March 1, 2023 by
UMW James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

UMW James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Chris Williams. Photo by Karen Pearlman.

James Farmer Multicultural Center Assistant Director Christopher Williams appeared in several media mentions for his work with the City of Fredericksburg’s Victoria Matthews. The two spearheaded the City’s recently unveiled civil rights trail, “Freedom: A Work in Progress,” of which the University of Mary Washington was a partner. Williams’ media mentions in reference to the trail include:

Haunting mystery solved in desegregation of Fredericksburg school (WTOP)
Yet, 60 years later? “Nobody ever knew who he was,” marveled Chris Williams, assistant director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center at the University of Mary Washington. “There was no name in the newspaper when that picture was taken — it just said ‘a young Negro boy.’” The unveiling event for “Freedom, a Work in Progress” will take place at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center in Fredericksburg on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 2 p.m.
https://wtop.com/virginia/2023/02/haunting-mystery-solved-in-desegregation-of-fredericksburg-school/

Fredericksburg to launch new civil rights trail (The Free Lance-Star)
The unveiling event for “Freedom, a Work in Progress” will take place at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center, 1119 Hanover St., at 2 p.m. This project was a collaboration between the city and the University of Mary Washington.
Civil Rights Trail to be unveiled Thursday (blog.fredericksburgva.com; WVTF; FXBG.com)
“Freedom, a Work in Progress” was spearheaded by two passionate individuals – one from the University of Mary Washington’s James Farmer Multicultural Center, one from Fredericksburg’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism – compelled to share a comprehensive story of the city’s civil rights past. The unveiling event for “Freedom, a Work in Progress” will take place at UMW’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center in Fredericksburg (1119 Hanover Street) at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 23. More information about the event is available on the Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/688630416340122/?ref=newsfeed, with a livestreamed planned for the event at 2 p.m. https://www.facebook.com/VisitFxbg.
https://blog.fredericksburgva.com/civil-rights-trail-to-be-unveiled-thursday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=civil-rights-trail-to-be-unveiled-thursday
https://www.wvtf.org/news/2023-02-23/fredericksburg-offers-a-walk-through-civil-rights-history
https://fxbg.com/civil-rights-trail/
Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail Unveiling Event (patch.com)
The City of Fredericksburg in partnership with the University of Mary Washington’s James Farmer Multicultural Center requests the pleasure of your company at the unveiling of The City of Fredericksburg’s Civil Rights Trail “Freedom, a Work in Progress.”
https://patch.com/virginia/fredericksburg/calendar/event/20230223/4a57a494-b2bb-4ad0-918a-4e42c21ca326/fredericksburg-civil-rights-trail-unveiling-event
Fredericksburg Unveils New Civil Rights History Trail (NBC4 Washington)
The story aired on NBC News4 at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXcz85RZZFk
Fredericksburg Unveils New Civil Rights History Trail (Fox5 D.C.)
The story aired at 6 p.m. on Thursday.
Fredericksburg, UMW unveil Civil Rights Trail (The Free Lance-Star)
The photograph ran in the paper, but for 60 years, the boy remained unidentified. The caption only described him as “a young Negro boy.” On Sept. 30, Chris Williams, assistant director of the James Farmer Multicultural Center at the University of Mary Washington, and Victoria Matthews, tourism sales manager for the City of Fredericksburg, were finally able to identify him as part of their research for the city’s Civil Rights Trail, which was officially unveiled Thursday during a ceremony at the university’s Jepson Alumni Executive Center.
https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/history/fredericksburg-umw-unveil-civil-rights-trail/article_303104d4-b3b9-11ed-a7df-ff4949cfc896.html
Fredericksburg Opens Civil Rights Trail (NPR)
On an unseasonable warm February afternoon, a few hundred people gathered at the University of Mary Washington’s Jepson Alumni Center in Fredericksburg to celebrate the opening of the Civil Rights Trail: Freedom, A Work in Progress.
https://www.vpm.org/news/photos-fredericksburg-civil-rights-trail
COMMENTARY: In a state turning back the clock on racial relations, Fredericksburg looks to the future (thelocalburg.substack.com)
That debate launched six years ago, however, was about much more than one artifact. In fact, it ignited a larger discussion about telling the full story of Fredericksburg history. And that led last week to the launch of the new two-part civil rights trail.
https://thelocalburg.substack.com/p/monday-february-27-2023?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1315258&post_id=105123295&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
City and UMW unveil Civil Rights Trail (Fredericksburg Today)
During Black History Month and amid a flurry of fanfare, the City of Fredericksburg in partnership with the University of Mary Washington unveiled its civil rights trail: “Freedom, a Work in Progress.”
https://fredericksburg.today/2023/02/24/city-and-umw-unveil-civil-rights-trail/
City of Fredericksburg and University of Mary Washington Unveil Civil Rights Trail (Virginia Chamber of Commerce)
“I can’t even begin to describe to you what a fantastic day this is for the City of Fredericksburg and the University of Mary Washington, and more importantly for our Black community,” said Chris Williams, assistant director of UMW’s James Farmer Multicultural Center. He and Victoria Matthews, tourism stadium and sales manager for the City of Fredericksburg, spearheaded the project.
https://vachamber.com/2023/02/27/city-of-fredericksburg-and-university-of-mary-washington-unveil-civil-rights-trail/
City of Fredericksburg and University of Mary Washington Unveil Civil Rights Trail (Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce)
“I can’t even begin to describe to you what a fantastic day this is for the City of Fredericksburg and the University of Mary Washington, and more importantly for our Black community,” said Chris Williams, assistant director of UMW’s James Farmer Multicultural Center. He and Victoria Matthews, tourism stadium and sales manager for the City of Fredericksburg, spearheaded the project.
https://www.fredericksburgchamber.org/city-of-fredericksburg-and-university-of-mary-washington-unveil-civil-rights-trail/
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