Posted on Feb 8, 2023
WA geographical sites renamed after Black homesteaders
498
6
2
4
4
0
A lake and a wetland in Washington state are soon to have new names in honor of two early Black settlers on the Kitsap Peninsula.
A 10.5-acre acre lake near Tahuya, Wash. will soon be called "Nathaniel Sargent Lake." Sargent was a Black man born into slavery who homesteaded near Seabeck. He died in 1954.
A nearby 18-acre wetland will now be known as Rodney White Slough. White was also born into slavery in Missouri. He began homesteading in Mason County in 1890, started an orchard, and lived there until his death in 1913.
Both the geographical sites near where Sargent and White lived in Mason County previously had names which included a racial slur toward Black people.
A 10.5-acre acre lake near Tahuya, Wash. will soon be called "Nathaniel Sargent Lake." Sargent was a Black man born into slavery who homesteaded near Seabeck. He died in 1954.
A nearby 18-acre wetland will now be known as Rodney White Slough. White was also born into slavery in Missouri. He began homesteading in Mason County in 1890, started an orchard, and lived there until his death in 1913.
Both the geographical sites near where Sargent and White lived in Mason County previously had names which included a racial slur toward Black people.
WA geographical sites renamed after Black homesteaders
Posted from kuow.orgPosted in these groups: 
State of Washington
American History
State of Washington American History
Posted 1 y ago
Responses: 2
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Both the geographical sites near where Sargent and White lived in Mason County previously had names which included a racial slur toward Black people.
“The stories of Rodney White and Nathaniel Sargent are important," said U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer, Mason County’s representative in Congress. "They made positive impacts on their communities, but they are not widely known. I’m proud to have supported this effort because renaming these locations in Mason County recognizes their contributions and impacts that might have been forgotten due to the color of their skin.”...
..."Both the geographical sites near where Sargent and White lived in Mason County previously had names which included a racial slur toward Black people.
“The stories of Rodney White and Nathaniel Sargent are important," said U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer, Mason County’s representative in Congress. "They made positive impacts on their communities, but they are not widely known. I’m proud to have supported this effort because renaming these locations in Mason County recognizes their contributions and impacts that might have been forgotten due to the color of their skin.”...
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
It is great these men are being recognized. The article, however, misses a big mark for me. I am always for recognizing those that help build and shape communities. I would have been and am interested in their contribution to the community but the article leaves these details out. It somehow seems disrespectful to identify their race and not include their contribution even if only stated in general terms.
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google