Rosita Youngblood facts for kids

Rosita C. Youngblood is a former politician from Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for many years. She represented the 198th District from 1994 until 2020. She was a member of the Democratic Party.

She made history as the first Black woman to hold a leadership position in the Pennsylvania House. She was first elected to the House in a special election on April 5, 1994. This election was held to fill a vacant seat. She served in her role until she retired in 2020.

A Leader in Her Community

Rosita C. Youngblood also served as a Ward Leader. She led the 13th Ward Democratic Executive Committee. A Ward Leader helps organize political activities in a specific neighborhood or "ward."

The Name of Negro Mountain

In July 2007, Rosita C. Youngblood spoke out about the name of Negro Mountain. She believed the name should be changed. She felt it was disrespectful to have a natural landmark named this way.

She learned about the mountain's name from her son and granddaughter. She said it was "disheartening" for visitors to see the name displayed.

Why Change the Name?

On August 1, 2007, Youngblood and other lawmakers proposed a plan. They introduced House Resolution No. 378. This resolution asked the governor to create a special group. This group would study the names of Negro Mountain and Mount Davis.

The goal was to find new names that truly honored the area's history. They wanted to recognize the bravery of African Americans in a conflict from 1756. They also wanted to change signs and brochures to reflect this history.

Mount Davis was named in 1921 after a white settler. Some people now believe this name should also be reconsidered. They feel it should honor the historical contributions of African Americans instead.