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Actor Looks Beyond Stereotypes to Portray William Clark's Slave: Hasan Davis Will Use York's Story to Inspire and Educate Audiences in Boise

Posted on: Thursday, 1 June 2006, 15:00 CDT

By Tim Woodward, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

May 25--It took Hasan Davis a long time to find the York behind the stereotypes. Now he's using the story of William Clark's slave to inspire young people.

The Kentucky motivational speaker and actor will present his interpretation of York this morning at the Idaho Black History Museum and twice Friday at the Tent of Many Voices in Julia Davis Park.

Discovering the York he now portrays took diligent research, Davis said.

"I started with the (Lewis and Clark) journals, but it's hard to get much from them," he said. "Then I went to the St. Louis Historical Society and got some references and eventually found a book that gave an overall picture of what York was like on a daily basis. It did a good job of refuting the vision of him as a Stepin Fetchit slave, happy working for Massah."

The York that emerged was "a very strong man who speaks strongly and clearly. He was a slave, but not a field slave," Davis said. "He grew up beside William Clark and was expected to carry himself in a way befitting one of the most powerful men in the country. He helped handle his business affairs. He was the major-domo at Clark's wedding."

But still a slave.

"He got to go on this incredible adventure and do this great work. It was the first time in his life that people (Americans Indians) had met him with open arms. But it was also with the realization that there was no hope of affirmation for it," Davis said. "Lewis and Clark would allow him to do incredible things, then pull him down as an example of their supreme authority. He was a strong, but conflicted man."

After the Lewis and Clark expedition, York returned to "being just a slave," Davis said. "I read some letters from Clark to his brother, letters no one knew about until about 20 years ago. Clark often vented about York and his surly attitude. It made Clark look like a bad Massah. After the expedition, York could no longer be a good slave. He was broken."

The knowledge didn't change Davis' opinion of Clark.

"He was just a man," he said. "He suffered in a society that wouldn't allow him to be powerful and fair. If he could do horrible things and still do such an incredible thing (the expedition), maybe I with all my terrible experiences can still do something great. This is what I tell young people: If we're diligent and strong, we can accomplish incredible things."

Davis has played York throughout the country, to unusual acclaim.

"People stop me and say, 'I needed to hear this my whole life. Thank you for being brave enough to tell me.' "

Davis and Marlene Rivero, who will do a presentation as York's mother at 4 p.m. today in the Tent of Many Voices, will be guests of honor at an open house at 6 p.m. today at the Boise Art Museum.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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Source: The Idaho Statesman, Boise

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