Everyone knows about Lewis and Clark, but did you know that a black man was also part of their famous expedition? His name was York.


 York was William Clark's slave from when he was a boy. He went on the journey as a full member of the team and was there when they reached the Pacific Ocean.


York was known for being skilled at scouting, hunting, field medicine, and doing hard work in very tough weather. Lewis even wrote in his journal about how York saved him from a grizzly bear during the trip. The Native Nations respected York because of his abilities, and his dark skin helped him in diplomatic relations with them.


After the journey, everyone who helped on the expedition was given money and land, except York. York asked Clark for his freedom because of all the help he gave, but Clark refused. York asked to be reunited with his wife, who was a slave in Louisville. He even offered to work there and send Clark all his earnings, but Clark still refused. Instead, Clark sold York to a harsh master in 1811. York was kept as a slave at least until 1816, and there is no clear information about his life after that.


Today, we remember York, a man who was forgotten by history for a long time. There is a statue of him in Louisville, KY, honoring his role in the expedition.

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