African American Perspectives on Wilderness

As the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act helped bring to light, perspectives on the meaning of “wilderness” have changed over time, and vary across cultures. February’s designation as Black History Month is an appropriate time to examine the relationship between African American experience and wilderness.

African Americans have played important roles in managing and stewarding public lands. African American “Buffalo Soldiers” completed significant public works and protected resources in Sequoia and Yosemite national parks, and Robert Stanton served as Director of the National Park Service from 1997 to 2001. And there’s an intriguing parallel between recognition of the need to preserve wilderness and the need to preserve human rights – both the Wilderness Act and Civil Rights Act were passed in 1964.

For contemporary African American perspectives on wilderness, we share a sampling of thought-provoking essays and studies:

• Boston Globe Hiking while Black by Francie Latour, with Carolyn Finney
  
• Orion Magazine Wilderness at 50: Our Wild and Civil Rights by Rue Mapp
• Earth Island Institute Reclaiming the Wilderness by Shelton Johnson
• Bron Taylor What is Africa to Me? Wilderness in Black Thought, 1860-1930 by Kimberly K. Smith
• Coachella Valley Independent Minorities Missing: A Black Former Park Ranger Talks About Diversity on Public Lands by Jodi Peterson