US Congresswoman, Yvette Clark, says Brooklyn was enslaved by the Dutch
Brooklyn Rep. Yvette Clarke dropped a huge gaffe on Brooklyn, the nation and Stephen Colbert, Wednesday after offering a explanation of New York history on “The Colbert Report.”
Clarke told Stephen Colbert, in a spot that aired Tuesday night, that slavery persisted in Brooklyn until as late as 1898. In reality, slavery was legally abolished in New York in 1827.
“Some have called Brooklyn’s decision to become part of New York City ‘The Great Mistake of 1898,’ ” Colbert said. “If you could get in a time machine and go back to 1898, what would you say to those Brooklynites?”
“I would say to them, ‘Set me free,’ ” Clarke responded.
Pressed by Colbert to say what she would have been freed from, the black Democrat responded, “Slavery.”
“Slavery. Really? I didn’t realize there was slavery in Brooklyn in 1898,” Colbert followed.
“I’m pretty sure there was,” Clarke continued.
“Who would be enslaving you in 1898 in New York?” the quick-witted comic questioned, never one to let slip a priceless live TV moment.
Clarke responded: “The Dutch.”
Check out the video around the 3:00 minute mark: