Did you know that there was a black man who was also a member of the expedition? Everyone is familiar with Lewis & Clark. York was his name.
He joined the expedition as a full participant and was there when it arrived in the Pacific Ocean because he had been William Clark's slave since he was a young child.
York had a reputation for being an expert in scouting, hunting, field medicine, and manual labour in adverse weather. Lewis had recorded in his book how York had spared him during the journey from certain death at the hands of a grizzly bear. Due largely to his dark colour, York was respected by the Native Nations and was important in diplomatic relations.
Each member of the voyage, with the exception of York, was compensated with money and land after the expedition's return. Given his sterling performance throughout the mission, York requested Clark's release; Clark refused. York pleaded for his wife, who was a slave in Louisville, to be reunited with him; he even offered to work there and send Clark all of his money. York was sold in 1811 to a cruel master after Clark continued to reject, and he was kept as a slave there at least until 1816. After that year, no trustworthy information on York has been released. Today I pay tribute to York, a man that up until recently history books had forgotten.
York Monument
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