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Showing posts from August 4, 2011

Lewis and Clark, revisited

On July 25, 1805 William Clark arrived at a place on the Yellowstone River we now call Pompey's Pillar. He left the only mark that is still present today scratched into it's side: Hubby and I went to the Pillar for the 205th celebration of their expedition and stop at the National Monument. Hasan Davis portrayed Clark's slave York. What an outstanding performance! His discussion will help provide a different prospective to Black History Month in my third grade classroom this year. York was born a slave and as a young man went on the expedition without being asked or paid. The thirty other men went knowing that there was a grave possibility that they wouldn't return but York wasn't given that choice. As they went further west into the unknown York was given more and more freedom, once even allowed to vote - something never allowed a slave. In Hasan's portrayal the listener understands York's feeling of complete freedom for the first time in his life as wel