Why did you lead your forward with that . Jesse part of the reason why i got into writing about africanamerican history in washington, d. C. Was because of barack obama and his campaign. There was a lot of interest in African American history, having the first africanamerican president in the white house. I was lucky enough to be assigned by the Associated Press to cover obama that weekend. I remember pulling up to the obamas townhouse in chicago thinking about what book will i write next. And right at that spot is when it hit me. I got so excited about the topic and so i immediately called my editor. She immediately tamped down my enthusiasm and told me to think about it. To make sure that i had a really good idea about what i wanted to do. Brian what was the idea . Jesse the idea was to write a story about the africanamerican slaves who lived inside the white house. Back then, the country was still talking about how great and how unique it would be if an africanamerican president liv
Brian what was the idea . Jesse the idea was to write a story about the africanamerican slaves who lived inside the white house. Back then, the country was still talking about how great and how unique it would be if an africanamerican president lived inside the white house. I said to myself, i understand that would be great but he cannot have been the first africanamerican to live there. And then the thought process went on so who were the first africanamericans to live there . We knew there were africanamerican butlers but i thought there had to be someone before them. I decided to write a book about the africanamerican slaves that lived inside the white house with the first president s and that is when the invisibles the untold story of African American slaves in the white house got its start. Brian we have an artist rendering of the first president s house in new york city. You say in your book that there were nine slaves working for George Washington inside that building. Explain h
Got into writing about africanamerican history in washington, d. C. Was because of barack obama and his campaign. There was a lot of interest in African American history, having the first africanamerican president in the white house. I was lucky enough to be assigned by the Associated Press to cover obama that weekend. I remember holding up pulling to the obamas townhouse in chicago thinking about what book what i write next. And right at that spot is when it hit me. I got so excited about the topic and so i immediately called my editor. Down mydiately tamped enthusiasm and told me to think about it. Really sure that i had a good idea about what i wanted to do. Brian what was the idea . Jesse the idea was to write a story about the africanamerican slaves who lived inside the white house. Was still the country talking about how great and how unique it would be if an africanamerican president lived inside the white house. I said to myself, i understand that would be great but he cannot h
House in pittsburg trapping the women inside. Deborah villalon now in pittsburg where she spoke with family and friends of the victims. Reporter they are all horrified and saddened at how the three died overnight in this house downtown. Women well regarded in their neighborhood and in their church. The house burned down, and she was asleep. Reporter the pastor broke the terrible news at todays service. And one victim was Marisa Figueroa a devoted member of his pentecostal church. Marisa was a great woman, she was devoted to the church. Whatever we needed to clean, she clean, whatever we needed to cook, she cook. She would do anything. This is one of the smoke alarm that is was found not installed but in the counter top of the house. There were three like these. They were not installed any where that i could find. Quite frankly, the tragedy is 15 for a smoke alarm is what would have made a difference. Its a rental house, so i dont know. Reporter next door, and up and down the streets ne
Women inside. Deborah villalon now in pittsburg where she spoke with family and friends of the victims. Reporter they are all horrified and saddened at how the three died overnight in this house downtown. Women well regarded in their neighborhood and in their church. The house burned down, and she was asleep. Reporter the pastor broke the terrible news at todays service. And one victim was Marisa Figueroa a devoted member of his pentecostal church. Marisa was a great woman, she was devoted to the church. Whatever we needed to clean, she clean, whatever we needed to cook, she cook. She would do anything. This is one of the smoke alarm that is was found not installed but in the counter top of the house. There were three like these. They were not installed any where that i could find. Quite frankly, the tragedy is 15 for a smoke alarm is what would have made a difference. Its a rental house, so i dont know. Reporter next door, and up and down the streets neighbors now test their detectors