A slave by the name of York was the only black out of the 40 explorers in the Meriwether Lewis – William Clark expedition.
Described as a large man raised on little protein and mostly starch, York was owned by Clark’s family, along with his parents, Old York and Rose, his siblings, then later, his own wife and children. Their home was in Kentucky where the blacks were given a bit more freedom than most places.
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/the_black_diaspora_news/21389
