Review: Cheryl Wills speaks at the 2025 ‘Ethnic Pen’ at Bay Shore High School

Emmy winner Cheryl Wills. Photo Credit: Robb Sapp.

Cheryl Wills is an Emmy award-winning journalist, talk show host, and author, who is based in New York City. On Friday, March 28th, Wills spoke at “Ethnic Pen” at Bay Shore High School on Long Island.

“Ethnic Pen” is Bay Shore High School’s English Department annual writers’ conference, which features award-winning American individuals and dignitaries.

Ms. Wills is the author of a series of books about her great-great-great-grandfather Sandy Wills, who was an enslaved Tennessee man who fought for his freedom during the American Civil War.

Wills has keynoted events all over the world, and she teaches students about her grandfather’s service with United States Color Troops. She discussed the importance of tracing one’s ancestry.

A Civil War Veteran, Sandy Wills was buried in an unmarked grave in Tennessee. This past November, in a post on her Instagram page (and in her keynote presentation), she was thrilled to report that Ohio Valley Archeology found him and had his remains exhumed, and they reburied him in a military cemetery.

Her keynote address at Bay Shore High School was able to move students, their teachers, staff members, and other invited speakers, on an emotional level, many of which were in tears of joy; moreover, it earned a tremendous round of applause from all, and it prompted students to ask stimulating and thought-provoking questions.

When asked by this journalist what this journey taught her about herself, Wills responded, “This journey taught me that the message is received well by young people. It’s hard to get young people to plug into what you are saying; they are in the digital generation, and they text all the time.”

“My speech resonated with them, and they were really just so eager to meet me and to shake my hand. I learned that we can reach the younger generation is the narrative is powerful,” she acknowledged.

“Also, this journey taught me resilience,” she underscored.

To learn more about Emmy winner Cheryl Wills, follow her on Instagram, and check out her official website.