160th Leidesdorff Memorial Celebration

by Khubaka, Michael Harris

William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. “African Founding Father of California” helped to first established public education, modern agricultural practices and modern global transportation opportunities in Northern California.

William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. utilized the financial markets of New York City to develop early California infrastructure. Today, Leidesdorff Ranch is being resurrected from the ashes of authentic California History. The desire for positive change in our communities must highlight contributions of California Black Excellence.

In 1840, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. was forced to leave the Port of New Orleans; his homeport for the previous 4 years, because of the Negro Seamen Acts provided difficult environmental conditions to continue his lucrative maritime trade and commerce.

In 1841, William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. sailed from the Port of New York to establish the sleepy Mexican Port of Yerba Buena as a major cosmopolitan shipping destination. The Leidesdorff name is well known in East coast financial circles yet few know that Leidesdorff Alley is the Wall St. of the West coast, the Financial District of San Francisco. Leidesdorff served as first elected City Treasurer, President of the S.F. School Board and was appointed U.S. Vice-Consul of Mexican California, serving as the first African American in U.S. History.

Beginning in the Spring of 1845 Leidesdorff Ranch was developed as a major cattle and wheat agricultural enterprise. On the arrival of the New York Volunteers - Stevenson Regiment in 1846 California was under U.S. Military rule until California Statehood in September of 1850. The connection of New York financial markets to California development is an "Ancient Future" Gold Rush.

May 1966, Leidesdorff Plaza was dedicated by the Negro Museum and Library Association of Sacramento, led by Mr. Joe Larson. A majestic fountain and scenic park were highlighted by historical markers of the Pony Express, Sacramento Valley Railroad and Leidesdorff Ranch, hopefully these elements return and showcase the positive contribution of people of African Ancestry, as a mutually beneficial point of respect and reverence that brings people together.

The ongoing bold and courageous bipartisan leadership of our elder statesmen Senator Dave Cox, Assemblymember Mervyn Dymally, and Senator Darrell Steinberg whom help facilitate the establishment of the William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. Memorial Highway, as a first step.

Today, the broader recognition towards preservation and restoration of an authentic legacy of Leidesdorff Ranch is beyond the current notion of equal opportunity.

California Black Excellence remains a legal definition of exclusion that discounts authentic African Americans and African immigrants and/or African refugees. There is no greater story of the California Gold Rush than the golden legacy of the wealthiest man person in 1848 California, Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. “African Founding Father of California.”

Leadership from Washington, D.C. public policy, New York financial markets and San Francisco innovation will help to restore the Leidesdorff Legacy in California. Together we will maximize sharing the origins of World Trade and Commerce, fueling another Gold Rush on Leidesdorff Ranch, Sacramento County.

U.S. Federal law must be utilized as the significant resource to demand equal opportunity for the first African American in diplomat in United States History. Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. received great respect for whom valued the principles of our great nation, today the demonic forces of destruction challenge basic humanity to honor the memory of our great nation.