The enslaved lives behind the President's House controversy

As the legal battle plays out surrounding the controversial removal of the plaques commemorating slavery at the historic President's House, we are digging deeper into its history. Well, tonight, we take a closer look at the heart of the issue, the nine enslaved men and women who were illegally held at the first White House by George Washington. Community journalist Tim Matters has the story. At this site, Sixth and Market served as America's first White House, right here where we stand. First President's House in the United States, where George Washington lived and John Adams lived. And when George Washington lived there, he was a slave owner and had 316 Africans enslaved in Virginia. He brought nine of those Africans with him to Philadelphia. Not only did he bring them with him to Philadelphia, he had them living in the horse stables in the back of the house. These are the nine black men, women, and children who were enslaved here by George Washington. Not just enslaved, but enslaved illegally from 1790 to 1797. In Pennsylvania, it was illegal in the way George Washington did it. He was breaking the law. And we have Austin, and Paris, and Hercules, and Christopher Shields, and Richmond, and Giles, and Oney Judge, and Maub, and Joe. If there were two highlights, it would be Hercules, and it would be Oney Judge. Hercules, because he was the greatest chef on the planet. He was such a great chef that when international dignitaries would come here, they would ask for the dishes that were created by Hercules, the largest free black population in America was right here in Philly. So he was able to, in addition to being enslaved, sell his wares to some of the free black people. Once George Washington left Philadelphia and went back to Virginia in 1797, he threw Hercules back into the cotton fields. He escaped and lived the rest of his life as a free man. And that takes me to Oney Judge. When she was brought here, she was a kid, a mere 17 years old, and she was quote unquote owned by Martha Washington. Martha was going to give Oney Judge away as a wedding gift to somebody. She connected with Philadelphia's free black population, and they were able to secrete her out of America's first White House. Not only did she remain a free woman with children, but she outlived George and Martha by 50 years. It's wonderful that George Washington was the first president, and he was the first president here in Philadelphia. But you have to also say that there were nine Africans who were enslaved at this site. If we're going to have this as a national site, tell the full story. Tell all of the story. That was community journalist Tim Matter. Thank you, Tim.