Who Was York?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 มิ.ย. 2018
- When I moved to Oregon I learnt a lot about the Lewis and Clark expedition. There was one man who was rarely mentioned though. York, Clark's slave, travelled farther than any African American at that point in history.
He may also have been the first African American to vote on an equal footing with European settlers. His story is a really fascinating piece of history so I thought I'd share it with you all.
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Image: maps.bpl.org, Map of the southern states of America, comprehending Maryland,
Virginia, Kentucky, Territory sth of the Ohio, North Carolina, Tennessee Governmt.,
South Carolina, & Georgia (4584052548), Size, shape by Stefan Milo, CC BY 2.0
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This would make a great movie plot. Particularly with the happy ending of ending up happy as can be with the Native Americans.
Can't have a movie about America without that subtle genocide denialism :)
@Airborne Poet What are you talking about? No one outside 'murica cares about your dull marine-corps.
@Airborne Poet I'm German. Its pretty common over here in civilized countries to use the term 'murica when referring to severe US-dumbfuckery ;)
@@coolepicperson4150 can't have a movie about American Indians without genocide instead of good trading partners.
@@ParanoidMaster so says the spawn of "Master Race".
Bless you for speaking about York! As an African American woman interested in history, I've read loads more about Sacagawea than I will probably ever get to about York who was there for the entirety of the expedition, wonderful video!
Who cares about your gender or skin colour ffs.
Thank you for this video. Like most people, I had never heard of York. This video was really interesting, and you're a good story teller. Thanks again.
when i clicked the video i thought this could be about York city at great britain maybe, turned out it is a completely different topic and i'm so glad to hear it. thanks for telling the story of York!
I thought it was going to be York of War of the Roses fame ... Robert, I think, off the top of my head .. :-)
This is truly fascinating! Thank you for this in-depth account of a forgotten man whose contributions to The Lewis and Clark expedition were immense.
This couldn't be further from the truth!
@@judyroachervin2766
What is the truth? What are your sources that contradict Stefan's research?
Back in the 70s when I was a young man I became very interested in the early explorers, living in New Bedford Massachusetts I had access to many older books, from Library dating to back in the 1800, I ran across a that mentions that particular exchange of words, but it also mentioned that Clark had promised to free him while they were on the expedition, and after the expedition, Clark mentioned that York was argumentative, I would imagine I would be too if someone promised me my freedom and renege. I know the book was in Stacks in the New Bedford Library I just wish I could remember what it was
I saw a woman vandalizing York’s statue, so I came to learn about him.
What did she look like the woman who vandalized?
I am shocked and disgusted that anyone would vandalise York's statue. I hope you called her out for doing so and made her feel ashamed of her actions.
What did you think decolonization was going to look like?
Thank you for teaching me something new! I can definitely see why York would have felt comfortable returning to live with Native Americans, people who actually treated him like a human being. I hope that was where he ended up, respected and loved.
Watching this video reminds me of the story of "Esteban the Moore" an African slave who traveled through what is now the southwest US and mexico with Cabeza de Vaca in the 1520s. That's also a harrowing tale.
Listening from Australia. Saturday morning cup of tea and biscuits listening to you
York is well recognized I think. He is less known that Sacajawea but he's the fourth person anyone could name from that expedition.
Many runaway and freed slaves joined Native American tribes. It makes sense for him to have joined a tribe.
"People can be black?
...that's kinda hot"
No it’s not
Hahaha Look at me skin You would know it is
“Here let my wife get some, I’ll watch the door”
Forbidden from reading but trusted with a gun. The pen truly is mightier than the sword.
ol York may of had trouble bringing down a grizzly with a pen..
Stefan, thank you so much for making this video! I have no skin in the game, no dog in the race, but I am a human being and just like you, I favor honesty over cowardice, and it is important to recognize the evil of power, it will stoop to character Assassination instead of gratitude for a job well done. The fall out I can guess has to do with the huge insult of treating him as an equal during the 8000 mile trip yet too big of a coward to face cultural prejudice and stand up for his friend. Clark caved under pressure and sold York out. I would be pissed too!
I love the ending, I was emotionally invested in York being the one seen with the tribe, living his life as he had earned it. Beautifully done, again, thanks mate! Loved every minute of it.
Fantastic. I've read about the Lewis and Clark expedition and have listened to a few podcasts on Sacagawea thanks to her crucially important role recently being recognised and publicised, but was shocked to have never heard of York. It's so important that his story gets told. Let's hope that his story starts to be revived as Sacagawea's has been.
Stefan, have you heard of Estevanico, an Arabic speaking black man who was among the companions of Cabeza de Vaca when he made his way across the "unknown interior of North America" in about 1534? As I recall from the abridged account that I read (in translation, written by de Vaca for the Viceroy of Mexico), the party often used Estevanico's blackness to trade themselves as healers and medicine men across North America. [typo corrected "back" > "black". Thank you, Mr Castro, for calling it to my attention.]
Is back man code for gay or something ? I’m not quite understanding
@@JoseCastro-fn9xs I think he meant to write black man, given the rest of the comment
@@JoseCastro-fn9xs Sorry, that was a typo. It should have been "black." Note the later phrase that refers to Estevanico's "blackness" as a means of imbuing him with magical healing power.
@@professorsogol5824 oh! thank you
if you are familiar at all with lewis and clark, you would have heard about York. he was given credit for being a valuable member of expedition.
Stefan Milo representing!
Really informative video
The second possibility of what happened to York sounds a lot more pleasant weather or not that man actually was York.
Very interesting and informative.Thank you for making this video.
I hope he passed as a Crow elder , loved and revered.
The plot of his life reads much like a peacetime version of the film, The Outlaw Josey Wales!
Check out Courage Undaunted by Stephen Ambrose. Great book on the expedition and York is mentioned frequently.
This is one of your best videos
Thanks, very early attempt at making a video. I find the story of his life really interesting. Hope it worked out well for York in the end.
As a going man, York put on torch shows in Mammoth Cave, Ky. People had dinners eventually, and watched these torch shows. I know this from Ky. family oral history. Look at Mammoth Cave. That's no small feat. Thanks for the video. Two hundred fourteen years ago today. Lewis, Clark, and York returned to St. Louis.
My parents would encourage me by telling me about Lewis and Clark and Smith...
Smith turned back because he got tired, and they didn't credit him. That always taught me to keep going even if I was worn out.
Even though both were forgotten, that was about as similar as they got!
Thanks for including the 18th-century banjo image @ 01:00 👍
I've been watching so much of your stuff and i gotta say, I think my favorite side to it is that you humanize history. Like, Hano the Carthaginian or Lucy our ancestor, it's just so much more relatable. One heck of an introspection too. Cheers!
This would be the best movie , the whole story’s already set up, even the side characters, like the native translator has story’s to tell
A lot of free black and runaway slaves, as well as Irish and Scottish, fled to the west after Lewis and Clark because they realized that the west was an enormous place and it would be pretty difficult to find you there. There might have also been some Europeans who settled into the west for more dubious reasons.😅
I can see why York would be popular and why native tribes would want to integrate new blood into their tribes if they could, especially if he was a large man, a good fighter and a good hunter. All very important things in tribal culture.
Maybe it's because I'm Indian that I totally get it in that context, and I could also be way off base with the intention of that particular tribe, but being from a matralineal tribe myself, all children a woman bore would be considered to be her husband's children, so if you could get a child with a more talented man in those important ways, he benefits from that child's reputation.
If that makes sense.
I love this channel! Stefan, you could ramble on for hours, I'd never lose interest.
I have a theory. Clark said those mean things about York to keep people from looking for him. Or even better York had a letter written to Clark with a lie saying he died of cholera so that Clark wouldn't go looking for him or asking around about what happened to his buisiness.
This is a man who had nothing going for him and was aware that there was a better life out there so the desire to disappear was in him. All he needed was an opportunity to act on it.
You have triggered me into wanting to know more about the Lewis and Clark expedition. So fascinating! I’m going to read their diaries for more interesting tidbits.
great stuff thanks Milo
Usually, I wouldn't have cried until the movie was out. This was one of just a handful of TH-cam videos which left me in tears. Great stuff, great presentation (even though, naturally, your production value has multiplied in the last years...)
10:23 Over 10% of the men who fought in the American Revolution were black. Some joined as slaves and others were free men before they joined the Continental Army, but they all left the Continental Army free men with the right to vote.
@@sparky6086 not "local," but at the state level way back in the mid to late 1600s
Considering only landed men could vote nationally until like the 1820s, I have some doubts that every black person in the continental army could vote. Most white men couldn’t vote at that time either.
@@seanbeadles7421 that is NOT true.
Thanks for this one. Was wondering if you’d ever considered doing one about Esteban? Seems like a worthy subject.
Great video, man. Just discovered your channel. Love it!
Whoa Stefan: ... No way York met Jefferson in preparation for the expedition as Clark didn't even meet Jefferson prior to the expedition. Clark joined up with Lewis when Lewis came to him at the Falls of the Ohio River near Louisville, KY in 1803. Much more likely Clark took York as a matter of convenience to himself. He was a "body servant", always around to make sure Clark's needs were met as evidenced by Clark's correspondence to his brother AFTER the journey when he did not want to give him his freedom. "Numerous times they were hungry" No, really only once in early September 1805 in crossing the Bitterroot Mountains. Almost all the Corps came away with venereal disease from the winter with the Mandans, York wasn't the only one entertained by the Native-American women. ???? York was given (most likely purchased his freedom from Clark).... and he ultimately ended up in the carthage business in Tennessee. While Tennessee was certainly a "slave state" there were several areas within the state that had significant "freemen populations" and ultimately remained supportive of the Union. Never heard about him wanting to return to slavery, but it certainly sounds bogus. Never heard the Zenas Leonard story. Would love to know the source of that one and like you, hope that it might be true.
@Dirk Hunter lol. I don’t think talking about historical figures and mostly anthropology is on the liberal agenda. Just because you don’t agree with something doesn’t mean it’s on the liberal. Lol. Have you seen his other videos? They are awesome. If you don’t like this one, check out his others. They won’t upset you as much. Take care, brother!
Exactly the kind of unpredictable subjects I expected when I subscribed to Stefan Milo! Bravo!
Great story. thanks for sharing and I hope York did enjoy the rest of his life.
Awesome episode, Stefan.
That rift was also very cool.
Thanks, Stefan, for filling in the gaps of our history, and correcting the myths along the way. And, as an aside, I love the way you say "anything." Totally enjoyed your vids on Neanderthals-- it's my go-to when I get tired of politics....
Thank you for putting the spotlight on York. I first learned of him from the book "Undaunted Courage." I was not impressed by Clark's treatment of him after the expedition.
Great video. I certainly hope that York got to live out his days with the people who so admired him.
What a wonderful video! Thank you for making it.
My favorite story from you. Thanks
Thank you for remembering York!
Thanks for your candid studies about this Black man named York. I was challenged by my Aunt to do a report on Lewis and Clark. I am glad she gave me this assignment.
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Park in Astoria is a treasure everyone should visit and learn about this stuff. It's something else to walk and explore the same areas they did.
As a descendant of American pioneers, this video is Outstanding.
Colonizers
ah one of your old ones has just popped up on my home page, great little story Stefan
Great story and meaningful piece of history.
Thanks for bring this to attention of the public! I can only hope that the leadership that you have demonstrated here will inspire other Scientists, Historians and Educators to help right the wrongs of history committed on the Black Slaves in Europe and the Americas and it will help erase all forms of racism and discrimination toward any member of the Human Race once and for all!
Thank You Milo!!
Great video, I had never heard of York before. One criticism i would offer though is your statement that it was illegal to teach slaves to read and write. Few if any laws of that nature existed in slave states until after Nat Turner's slave revolt in 1831. Some slave states including Kentucky and Tennessee never passed such laws even after the revolt.
It is truly heartening that in the end this man was able to find a free people who were able to love and accept him as a human being and to welcome him into life with them. I bet for all the propaganda about Native Americans being "poor," these were truly some of the richest people who have lived on this planet.
Enjoyed. Subscribed.
Great story. Keep up the awesome work.
Excellent
and they used a British explorers MAPS!!! Think about it: Canada/USA border would be along the Columbia River with ALL of Wash. state and most of Idaho inside Canada. !!
This is defiant America, and in 1800 was even more decentralized and independent. Assuming rural compliance with (coastal-enacted) laws concerning slaves and literacy or firearms is a mistake. There were no shortage of runaway slaves in the Union army that could shoot well, a skill not gained quickly with black powder firearms.
Great!
LOVE THE VID!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the content. I really enjoy this TH-cam channel. Stefan Milo has a unique passion for paleontology and enough savvy to start a TH-cam channel with 70,000+ subscribers. This is a smart person. He is kind of like Dan Carlin, but with a focus on paleontology (instead of history) ... Thumbs up, if you want to see Stefan Milo getting high on the Joe Rogan Experience (JRE)
Awesome sentimental way to finish the story I like it
Black was the colour of beauty for many tribes so it makes sense he was so popular with the ladies!
I can see why York would go to the Crow. They didn’t see him as less than human. Must have been refreshing
That was a great video!
Wonderful video. I have a suggestion for another profile of an overlooked non-white American with a wild biography, critical to the US opening up of Japan- Ranald MacDonald (seriously, that was his name).
Finally somebody mentions James Clark asynchroned it just aggravates me nobody pays any attention to what things Leonard has to say
Brilliant! This was fascinating. I hope York did go west to live with the Crow.
Doesn’t really sound like a slave to me. More like a Django character. Crazy story, though. Loved it. I will be looking up more about him.
I imagine a lot of house slaves had this sort of relationship with their household. Kind of hard to be too horrible to someone that you played with as a child and who you are in constant company with. Even if it's in a broader culture of masters and slave.
Thank you for sharing this information about York. Do you think that the city York, PA is related to him?
This is really good history. Good editing too. You should be getting views in the thousands. hmm.
First nations attitudes toward sex, reproduction, and family were varied but also very different from European attitudes. There are many accounts of first nations husbands making their wives available or of the women making themselves available for a variety of reasons, including essentially as trade goods. If a husband's wife became pregnant by such an encounter, so much the better. In a lot of the cultures, the husband was the child's father, regardless of who the sperm donor was.
richard
--
This is the best of all possible worlds. Finally, a statement on which both optimists and pessimists agree.
Some cultures still behave like this because the wife is their most personal "possession".
Wow, York is epic!
Amazing history. What a surprise he is written out of our American lore and histories...
What is the music used in this video. And go York!
Great Ken Burns documentary check it out also lots of other great documentaries from him..
That statue is so cool
Thank you. This was great. I wonder at the practice of offering your wife to a remarkable stranger and waiting outside the tent. Could it be that the husband is hoping for a baby from the stranger? If York was a subject of interest and fascination for the tribes, a mixed race baby would likely also be and might be of clout use for the husband.
To this day, I've heard modern stories of people trekking across Eurasian steppe or the Himalayas, or in amazon jungle that tribes and nomads would often offer their wives to the men "exploring" or trekking across these outland areas away from modern cities and modern civilization.
It seems more like a "hospitality' and also a way of mixing genes into your population. Which is why a lot of tribes would trade women throughout human history.
Plus they're not hung up on modern Abrahamic type religions or it's influence on former colonial areas that might be different religions but still absorbed modern Christian hesitation around sex
We all know of Sacajawea, we also need to understand that the expedition was equal parts for everyone, history just seem to write out York
I would love to see you talk about Gorge Washington Bush first African American in Oregon territory
The is a movie I want to see!!
Exploration of american west is my fav part of us history
What's the music in the beginning of this video?
IDK, but it's good, right?
Dear Mr High&Mighty English-Man, who taught the folks who became Mercan slavers: right, BritBoy, you. Also Dutch, Spanish & etc., but still.
Yeah I hope it was York as well. He's buried out there somewhere and we'll never know. How cool.
This really should be a film. All the characters are there. Doesn’t surprise me that the only person who didn’t get a reward was him. Typical.
It makes sense, he had already been among natives and known their ways so he simply went with them , they offered him a sense of respect.
Alas, poor York, ah knew 'im well. Good work ,kid. g5, 18May2022
Also, I would not trust anything written by Washington Irving. He very well would have written something like that without ever having spoken with Clark.
Skiddle de doo indeed.
Really cool glasses
Alas poor York , I knew him well
I already thought you were cool… but now
Super cool
Pretty great idea man
Perhaps clark gave a cover story , gave him 6 horses to head out west into indian territory
thank you for teaching me something I never knew about! I love your videos.
I'm curious about the tension between, as a body-slave, being decently well educated, but also not being taught to read? Was reading not really necessary for their role or was the prohibition against reading simply too strong?
In Yorks time, before Nat Turner revolt, it wasn't illegal to teach slaves to read and write. I expect York knew how, he was incredibly skilled, and responsible for trading.
Fantastic story, thank you, and I do very much agree with your hope that Mr. York found a good live eventually amongst more enlightened people than Euroamerican bigots.