Hello,

Some of you may remember my opinion about the heralding of York's permission to vote as being a first for African-Americans on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I have come across another piece of info. which supports my position that the statement mis-represents African-American history. I have included this info. with a segment of the March, 2005 article.

1.) "...All that happened was a temporary liberty granted by a master to a slave. Dr. Sterling Stuckey discusses public slave self-rule elections in New England as early as the 1750’s and continuing for a century. My opinion is that no great leap for African-Americans or democracy was made by York's vote."
Allen L. Lee (York Question. www.Afrigenaes. 3/2005)

2.) African Americans in Nashville

"...The history of Nashville's largest ethnic community began in 1748 when blacks accompanied white explorers into the Middle Tennessee area and several black families were among the Donelson party that arrived by flatboat in 1780. Fifteen to twenty percent of the earliest black settlers were free persons and, until 1835, they could vote in all elections."
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Allen L. Lee