Rosita Youngblood facts for kids

Rosita C. Youngblood, born on December 20, 1946, is a former politician from the Democratic Party. She served as a representative in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1994 until 2020. This means she was a lawmaker for her local area in Pennsylvania for many years. She made history by becoming the first African-American woman to hold a leadership position in the Pennsylvania House. She was first elected in a special election on April 5, 1994, and continued to serve until she retired in 2020.

What is a Ward Leader?

Rosita Youngblood was also a Ward Leader for the 13th Ward Democratic Executive Committee. A "ward" is like a neighborhood or a local area within a city. A Ward Leader helps organize political activities and represents the people in that specific area for their political party.

Why Change Mountain Names?

In July 2007, Rosita Youngblood suggested changing the name of Negro Mountain. She felt the name was disrespectful. She learned about the name from her son and granddaughter. She believed it was upsetting for visitors to see a plaque with that name on the mountainside.

The History Behind the Name

On August 1, 2007, Youngblood and other lawmakers introduced a plan called House Resolution No. 378. This plan asked the governor to create a special group. This group would study the names of Negro Mountain and Mount Davis. The goal was to choose new names that would better show the history of the area. They also wanted to honor the bravery of African-American people during a conflict in 1756 near Negro Mountain.

Mount Davis Controversy

Mount Davis was named in 1921 after a white settler who owned the land. Some people now believe this name should also be changed. They think it would be better to honor the African-American people who showed courage in the area's history. The resolution aimed to make sure that all signs and brochures would correctly tell the story of these important historical events.