"Remembering York," a free portrayal of the black slave that accompanied explorers William Clark and Meriwether Lewis on their expedition, comes to the University of Missouri-Rolla campus Feb. 25.

Dr. Donald Matthews

The performance, sponsored by the UMR African American Cultural Recognition Committee and ArtsRolla!, will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, in Room 128 Castleman Hall, 10th and Main streets in Rolla.

Dr. Donald Matthews, director of the Black Studies program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, tells the tale of York, the only African American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. As such, York was the first black man to travel from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers to the Pacific Ocean.

York was an extremely important and valued member of the Corps of Discovery, says Matthews. He participated fully in the tasks undertaken during the expedition. However, despite his equal status during the expedition York was returned to the status of slave once the expedition ended.

For more information, contact Lawrence George, assistant to the chancellor for affirmative action at UMR, at (573) 341-6314 or email lcg@mst.edu .