Africa Week 2008 ~ Memorial Day Sacramento County

In 1846, U.S. President Polk vision of manifest destiny ‘from sea to shinning sea’ was realized with the U.S. flag was raised and Declaration of Independence first read in California at home of Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, "African Founding Father of California."

Leidesdorff Adobe Ranch was established in 1844 and should be replicated as the actual location to document the extensive agribusiness production in Sacramento County, California, American River Parkway South.

Leidesdorff’s steam vessel was used to highlight the opportunity to expand agricultural transportation from Leidesdorff Ranch to cosmopolitan international markets via the Port of San Francisco, documented on our California State Seal.

A train depot, first Railroad west of the Mississippi, was used to transport agricultural products from Leidesdorff Ranch. Routier Station remains intact today as State Senator Routier expanded and enhanced Historic Leidesdorff Ranch into the 20th Century world leading Agriculture Research Region.

In 2008, Sacramento County Parks and Recreation refuses to allow consideration of primary source documentation to share an inclusive California Gold Rush Legacy specific to the geographical site in question, Historic Leidesdorff Ranch.

A January 2008 vote to resend the use of the name of Goethe Park and provide temporary coverings to re designate the park American River Park South by Sacramento County Board of Supervisors remains ignored.

An inclusive process to invite broader public participation has failed miserably and fails any account of modern scientific sample for community outreach.

County Park staff did not recuse themselves form friendly relationships with existing Goethe family, finding a need to speak German during Park Commission meeting while guiding the process to limit participation from residents whom Goethe felt should not be considered fit human beings.

Several Nazi German supporters even went so far to suggest Leidesdorff enslaved Native Americans despite his land grant title stipulating he would work cooperatively with Native populations on his property and employed many Native Americans in several of his businesses.

The "County Parks Survey" established an “in house process to generate proposed names for American River Park South” and used a rushed 30 day process that is challenged based upon the "unscientific nature" and "blatant leading question poised" the process was certainly biased and probably illegal.

Official recognition of Leidesdorff Adobe Ranch at the geographical location in question remains a secret and not mentioned by the Sacramento County Parks and Recreation Staff communications, why continue to hide the significant African American contribution to the American River Parkway?

Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. and his significant contributions as first title holder and agribusiness development of over half of the American River Parkway remains outside of the scope of inclusive recognition of the African American contributions to Sacramento County. Mile marker 14 ~ 30 are inclusive of Historic Leidesdorff Ranch yet not mention anywhere.

Park Commissioner Chair stated during Sacramento County Supervisor Meeting that a vote for River Bend Park was taken prior to January 29, 2008. Several Park Commissioners admitted ignorance of any knowledge of Leidesdorff and it seems that many wish to keep it that way, despite the possibility of a proposed U.S. National Landmark to compliment William Alexander Leidesdorff Memorial Highway, 15 miles of U.S. Highway 50.

The subsequent "County Survey" utilized misleading information at best and intentional fraudulent language concerning the "southern bend of the American River" that served to guide and or influence a limited distribution by County Park Staff to arrive at the desired goal of River Bend Park.

Former County Supervisor, Illa Collin, seemed a favored choice to rename the Park after however when another park in her honor within Sacramento County was identified, then the push to discredit Leidesdorff and the African American legacy began.

Today's, recommendation of River Bend Park continues to follow the notion of “self fulfilling staff recommendations” by planned limited community participation at Sacramento County Park Commission in a tradition to honor C.M. Goethe.

May 2008 is Sacramento River Watershed Month. River Bend Park currently exists within the Sacramento River Basin however it seems not to be an issue to a predetermined “family” decision of the Sacramento County Parks Commission.

The American River Parkway remains the "crown jewel" of the entire Sacramento River Watershed. The tradition of African Americans whom migrated from the Eastern sea board in search of freedom along the American River Parkway is a National story of great distinction, today tombstones of early Black Pioneers show “Unknown Niggers” in Sacramento County as a memorial to remember our contribution to California.

Sacramento County Board of Supervisors will soon weigh in on the Stolen Legacy of Honorable William Alexander Leidesdorff, Jr. “African Founding Father of California,” first United States Diplomat of African Ancestry serving as U.S. Vice Consul, Mexican Alta California. African Week 2008 we highlight Leidesdorff Ranch in our nation’s capitol and plan for ensuring Federal participation and due process is granted.

Michael Harris
Leidesdorff Ranch Project