Leidesdorff Memorial Highway Honors First Black U.S. Diplomat

The California Farmer, California Farm Bureau and California Chamber of Commerce sponsored special recognition and induction of Leidesdorff Memorial Ranch into the prestigious California Agricultural Heritage Club, California State Fair and Exposition.

One day produce from Leidesdorff Ranch will be featured at the Ferry Market, honoring the first regional food from Leidesdorff Ranch, inclusive of Black Agriculture in the #1 Agriculture region in the United States of America.

Finally today, our United States Department of Agriculture and California Department of Food and Agriculture can embrace ethnic inclusion from Community Based Partnerships whom demonstrate a historic faith based natural regional food system that mirrors the original vision of Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.

Leidesdorff Memorial Ranch will one day become an international cultural tourist destination in Sacramento County teaching authentic historic agricultural practices and showcasing modern environmental preservation of our crown jewel, the American River Parkway and the extensive African American contribution to Gold Rush California.

Leidesdorff Ranch is being resurrected from the ashes of authentic California History and challenging one of the final highlights and sacred belief of international racism. C.M. Goethe and his modern supporters will no longer be embraced, especially along Leidesdorff Memorial Highway.

The Golden Legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. is making measured progress with the assistance of philanthropist Tova Leidesdorf and Emmy-award winning actress, Lynn Whitfield. Both New York City legends have pledged ongoing support to establish worldwide recognition for the contributions of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. U.S. Congresswomen Donna Christensen of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands is excited to share the birth home of the first Black U.S. Diplomat in U.S. History

In 1838, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was encouraged to leave the thriving Port of New Orleans; his home-port after becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1834. The Negro Seamen Acts proved difficult environmental conditions to maintain his lucrative maritime trade and commerce business. The final blow was a tragic ending to his love affair that challenged a great man to achieve unparalleled new heights to help replace the pain in his heart.

In 1841, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. sailed into the sleepy Mexican village of Yerba Buena, Alta Mexican California to establish a major cosmopolitan destination. The Leidesdorff name is well known in financial circles globally, yet few know that Leidesdorff St. remains the Wall St. of the West coast, in heart of the Financial District of San Francisco.

Beginning in 1844, the 35,000 acre Leidesdorff Ranch was developed into a major agribusiness enterprise and in 1846, upon arrival of the New York Volunteers - Stevenson Regiment; Alta California became under effective U.S. Military rule during the U.S./Mexican War. In February 1848, upon the signing of the Peace Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo war was officially over and California statehood was about to fulfill the notion of "manifest destiny" envisioned by New York financiers.

Imagine the first African-American Diplomat in U.S. History, the wealthiest man in 1848 California by all accounts and President of the first public school in California being honored a part of the annual U.S. Memorial Day celebrations.

California Legislative bipartisan leadership by elder statesmen Dave Cox, Mervyn Dymally, and Darrell Steinberg sponsored legislation to establish the William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Memorial Highway, 14 miles along the Highway 50 corridor.

Today we urge ‘smart growth and development' utilizing the best practices of national historic preservation to restore, replicate and remember the "African Founding Father of California."

First Lady Michelle Obama demonstration of a broad knowledge of early California History is a strong guide to help us gain support and to guide regional, state, national and international supporters to restore Leidesdorff Memorial Ranch, established in 1844.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/16/michelle-obama-commenceme_n_204302.html

October 2010, will mark the official beginning of the Leidesdorff Bicentennial Celebration that will mark a new bridge toward tomorrow where past systemic institutional racism will end and simply trying to say the name Leidesdorff Memorial Highway will not be all that difficult, especially to the children in public schools in the Great State of California andy beyond.