by KYW’s Kim Glovas
While the nation begins celebrating our celebration, black Philadelphians are bringing a little known chapter of that history to life. It's an effort to expose slavery that existed at the first White House.
History shows that George Washington had nine slaves in the first White House at 6th and Market. Nine enactors played out those roles as part of the July 4th events. Jeffrey Hart is one of the founders of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition:
"It's been the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition that has been able to bring voice to it and numbers of people who recognize what has been going on and this lost history of the United States."
Among the slaves, Oney Judge, Martha Washington's personal slave, was played by Yasmine Brown:
"Getting into the role, it was hard and easy at the same time because I hear that my grandparents tell me about their mothers and fathers and I can relate it to the situation."
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