on today December 14,

in 1939,
Ernie Davis was born. He was a star running back at Syracuse University; first black player to win the Heisman Trophy in 1961; drafted by the Washington Redskins and traded to Cleveland but died the following year of leukemia before playing a pro game. 

in 1799  

This travel blog photo's source is TravelPod page: Week in Fishkill

George Washington, dies. His will stipulated that his slaves shall be freed upon the death of his wife, Martha.

(how kind of him).

The Haves and the Have-Nots

In 1776, the independence of the United States foreshadowed what would occur later on from Mexico south.
To remove any doubts about the place of the Indians in the new nation, George Washington proposed "the total destruction and devastation of their settlements." Thomas Jefferson voiced the opinion that "this unfortunate race has justified its extermination." And Benjamin Franklin suggested that rum could be the "appointed means" to get rid of the savages.
To remove any doubts about the place of women, the Constitution of the State of New York added the adjective "masculine" to the right to vote.
To remove any doubts about the place of poor whites, the signatories to the Declaration of Independence were all rich whites.
And to remove any doubts about the place of blacks in the newborn nation, six-hundred and fifty thousand slaves remained enslaved. Black hands built the White House.  

And now, over 300 years later, a Black man and his family, live there.