Williston Herald
July 14, 2003
Davis portrays little known explorer
By Kathryn Gurfinkel, Staff Writer
Hasan Davis, nationally know performer, educator and youth advocate, spends the days of his life bringing little known characters from history to life.
Davis is slated for a living history portrayal of York, the black explorer on the Lewis & Clark expedition, at 8 p.m. Saturday for Christmas in July at Lewis & Clark State Park.
A love of history was not what brought Davis to York, but rather a search for representation in history of a culture that was left out.
"I wanted to make sure this African American voice (York) was heard," said Davis.
York traveled on the Corp of Discovery as William Clark's slave; a position, according to Davis, he shed while on the expedition only to regain it upon returning home.
By portraying York, Davis is looking to highlight the injustices perpetrated by historical figures as well as ones committed today by history's remembrance.
To understand York, Davis attempted to research the character, but found few, if any references.
"It was difficult at first," he said.
His search led him to a book called 'In Search of York' by Robert B. Betts. Davis said the book, that became the cornerstone of his research, studies the written documents from the journey that mention York and his role in the expedition.
The book also explores the attitude the other members of the party took towards York in the context of a slavery society. While on the Corp of Discovery trip, Davis said the band of explorers never wrote anything derogatory about York.
In his research, Davis was taken in deeper into the story of Lewis & Clark than he had ever gone.
"I got involved with Lewis & Clark on levels I didn't imagine," he said. "It was a fellowship of unimaginable power."
Davis found that the adventurers' story was one of overcoming nature and the persistence of the human spirit.
"They are very American, very human stories," he said.
With the revival of York, Davis is helping to give his culture the historical recognition it has been denied.
Davis is not only a performer, he also is an educator and a youth advocate. He attended Bera College where he received a bachelors degree in oral communications. He went on to the University of Kentucky to earn a juris doctorate in law.
Today, Davis spends most of his time performing and speaking for everyone from government meetings to church lectures. He also is involved in motivational programs and workshops.
Davis overcame a colorful past, including a diagnosis of learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and brings his past into his empowerment and youth education performances today.
Currently, Davis serves as chair on the Kentucky Juvenile Justice Advisory committee, a re-appontment by Gov. Paul E. Patton. He also serves on the board of the National Coalition for Juvenile Justice and is vice president and a founding board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Madison County.
Although his date book is normally full, Davis said he always makes time for his wife, Dreama, and his four-year-old son, Malcolm.
"They are my priority," he said.
Davis looks forward to bringing his program to the place where Lewis, Clark and York visited nearly 200 years ago.
"It's nice to be close to where the action really was," he said. "I'm really excited about it."
As for changing the views of history and lending representation to an overlooked culture, Davis said, "You have to do something about it or you really are part of the problem."
On the Net: http://www.homestead.com/empowermentsolutions/Hasan.html
