BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 X-WR-CALNAME:www.indybay.org PRODID:-//indybay/ical// v1.0//EN BEGIN:VEVENT UID:Indybay-18782981 SEQUENCE:18909956 CREATED:20160217T063100Z DESCRIPTION:The past, present and future of the Great State of California are connected in a wonderful way. \n\nHonorable Mervyn M. Dymally offered AB 59 an amazing legislative opportunity to showcase the contributions by people of African ancestry throughout the State of California, his legacy is alive. \n\nHonorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. continues to demonstrate the amazing potential of equity and equal opportunity. In the spirit of our mixed Caribbean extended family, 2016 Folsom Black History Month ~ Roots, Wine and Reggae will bring us together in a good way...\n\n2016 Folsom Black History Month ~ Roots, Wine and Reggae is poised to mark a new beginning, building on the solid foundation of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr., (1810-1848) a prominent civic leader and founding pioneer in the successful quest for California to become the 31st state of the United States of America, our “African Founding Father of Califonria.” \n\nWilliam Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was born in St. Croix, Danish Virgin Islands, in October 1810 to Anna Marie Sparks, of African Cuban ancestry and William Leidesdorff, of Danish Jewish ancestry. \n\nBy 1846 in San Francisco, William owned the largest home in San Francisco, was elected City Treasurer, constructed the City Hotel, built the first commercial shipping warehouse and wharf in S.F., elected President of the first California School Board and donated the land to build the first public school in California, owned and operated his prosperous 35,500+ acre agribusiness, Leidesdorff Ranch in Sacramento County. \n\nIn 1834, Leidesdorff was naturalized a U.S. Citizen and began to develop a lucrative maritime shipping business based in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Negro Seamen Acts, at the second busiest port in the United States, New Orleans and a lengthy Federal lawsuit, on top of the tragic ending to his love affair forced William to relocate to the Pacific Rim with a fresh start. \n\nIn 1840, Leidesdorff traveled to New York, NY and on his final plans east coast voyage he sailed through the ports in Cuba, Virgin Islands, Panama, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Hawaii relocating to Alta Mexican California. \n\nIn 1841, Leidesdorff sailed the first United States shipping vessel, the Julia Ann, into the sleepy Mexican fishing Village of Yerba Buena, modern day San Francisco, to establish a world maritime center. \n\nIn 1843, he was naturalized as a Mexican citizen in order to facilitate acquiring a vast land grant from the Mexican authorities, and was an early advocate of creating dual United States citizenship. \n\nIn 1844, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. obtained title to Rancho Rio de Los Americanos, well over 35,000+ acres of prime real estate along the south bank of the American River. His global trade and commerce projects financed, developed, and helped stabilize the Sacramento Valley. \n\nIn 1845, he accepted the position of United States Vice-Consul to the Mexican Alta California region; as such, he became the first African-American diplomat, affectionately known as "A Founding Father of California." \n\nIn 1846, he was an active leader in the Bear Flag Revolt during the Mexican-American War. He went on to captain the first and only steam ship in California prior to the Gold Rush of 1848, the Sitka. His maiden steam voyage up the Sacramento River is immortalized on the California State Seal and recognizes his vision for increased maritime transportation of California's agricultural products to world markets. \n\nIn 1848, prior to his untimely death from brain fever, he received official notification of vast quantities of gold on his immense cattle and wheat ranch along today's Route 50 corridor. \n\nMay 18, 1848 he was buried just inside the front entrance of the Roman Catholic Church, Old San Francisco Mission Delores Basilica. \n\nIn 2004, a 15 mile portion of US Highway 50 was officially designated the William Alexander Leidesdorff Jr. Memorial Highway by the California State Legislature and highway sign installations occurred Spring of 2005. \n\nIn 2007, the State of California, California Farmer, California Farm Bureau, California Chamber of Commerce and California State Fair inducted Leidesdorff Ranch into the prestigious, California Agricultural Heritage Club. \n\nDuring California Black History Month 2008, River Bend Park became the official name of Goethe Park, on Historic Rancho Rio De Los Americanos continuing to cloak the rebirth of the “Golden Legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr.” \n\nJanuary 2010, the Congress of Racial Equality, during its 25th “Silver” Anniversary Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, 52nd Street at Seventh Avenue, New York, NY honored Tova Leidesdorf and the legacy of William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. \n\nIn 2011, Leidesdorff Ranch/Negro Hill Burial Ground Project achieved a major victory by removing the wicked, demonic language from the grave markers of the early California pioneers of African ancestry. \n\nFebruary 27, 2016 at 5:30 pm at the Lake Natoma Inn, Folsom, CA join us for 2016 Folsom Black History Month Gala Dinner Program followed by Roots, Wine and Reggae featuring Zion Roots Band. \n\nTogether, we will consider a mutually beneficial path toward reconsideration of AB 59 a seminal piece of legislation authored by Honorable Mervyn M. Dymally, let us come together in the spirit of Roots, Wine and Reggae.\n\n https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/02/16/18782981.php SUMMARY:Roots, Wine and Reggae ~ 2016 Folsom Black History Month Celebration LOCATION:Lake Natoma Inn, Folsom, CA URL:https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2016/02/16/18782981.php DTSTART:20160228T013000Z DTEND:20160228T063000Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR