California Admission's Day ~ Agriculture Trade and Commerce

Sacramento, CA ~ It was on this day, September 9, 1850, that California became the thirty-first state in the Union.

U.S. acquisition of California was officially announced on the veranda of the U.S. Vice Consul, Alta California, Port of San Francisco, with the bilingual reading of the Declaration of Independence, July, 4, 1846.

The Golden Legacy of the Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., “African Cuban and Danish Jewish Founding Father of California” begins to open the door to the early contributions by people of African Ancestry to the State of California and offers tangible lessons for the value of Agriculture Trade and Commerce.

His and many other California Black Pioneers continue to escape the cognition of our California Department of Education who could inspire a generation without strong connectons to our complete California Admissions Day story.

Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. served as President of the First California School Board, building the first public school in California while serving as first elected Treasurer of the City of San Francisco, and his legacy is far too inspirational to teach in California public schools today.

Highlighting primary documentation of individual and collective diverse ethnic contributions to early California History gives authentic balance to the pre-Gold ‘Rush era, Mexican-American War, (1846 – 1848) and the discovery of gold at Coloma in 1848 that transformed the social, political and economic landscape of California forever.

International migration of forty-niners who rapidly accelerated the growth and diversity of pioneer settlers’ was a unique 19th century experience seldom shared beyond a false fantasy celebration of nostalgia.

The California Conventions was organized at Colton Hall in Monterey, elections were held throughout the State and a Constitution was drafted – with the exclusion of all non-white citizens. Early California History remains an open secret, enshrined by our original California Constitution and inaugural address by first Governor Peter Burnett. 160 years from today the truth will be taught with accuracy and primary source documentation.

Chattel Slavery of Indigenous tribes and people of African Ancestry was widespread throughout California and legal disenfranchisement of early Black California pioneers and others were successfully debated in the early California Legislature.

Targeted exclusionary bills were openly enacted by the California State Legislature and today 36 grave markers, not far from our California State Capitol, continue to shamefully recognize early Black California pioneers by the most foul and wicked name in the English language.

The Compromise of 1850 was reached and California Statehood was ratified on September 9th, today more than ever, we must celebrate the past, live today and prepare for tomorrow remembering the bridges that have brought us thus far along our journey towards a more perfect union.

California has changed in many ways over the past 160 years, yet systemic institutional racial discrimination and xenophobia, continues to live on in many regions of our Great State.

On California Admission Day 2010, come join Governor Schwarzenegger and our California State Legislative leaders who will celebrate our diversity and seek a greater understanding of the many people of different backgrounds, cultures and religions who make our Golden State a beacon of wonder for the world.