Breaking the Color Barrier in the Great American Outdoors

The United States has beautiful national parks, with untouched vistas of the Badlands, Yellowstone and Yosemite to name a few. But amid the breathtaking views, there is one a glaring omission. Under the pristine blue skies, there are hardly any people of color. Why are there so few Black people visiting the national parks? Why aren't Black folks enjoying the parks they helped create - the public lands that belong to them as well?

Why are there no stories on national parks or the environment in Ebony, Jet or Essence? Parks are an unknown quantity to most people of color. President Obama and his family recently took in some of this great beauty at the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park.

Ken Burns promotes the idea that national parks are “as uniquely American as the Declaration of Independence” in his latest television documentary series “The National Parks: America's Best Idea," which begins airing on PBS on September 27. The most special places in the nation should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone." The documentary shows the beginning of the park system and the contributions of people of color.

There are people like Shelton Johnson, raised in Detroit, Michigan, and a stranger to national parks until he became a park ranger at Yosemite. There he tells his mostly white visitors the tale of the Black cavalry regiment, known as the Buffalo Soldiers, who protected the land and toiled to build trails and roads. When he first arrived at Yosemite 15 years ago, Johnson had no idea Black soldiers had a share of the park's history until he saw a black-and-white photo of men who looked like him. These were the faces of Americans who helped build the park. Yet less than 1 percent of the visitors to Yosemite are Black.
Historically, Blacks have shied away from the outdoors. Ethnic minorities are conspicuously absent in activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, cycling and rock climbing.

Part of it was based in poverty. A lack of money and transportation held minorities back from road trips and ski vacations. But fewer socioeconomic barriers exist today, but a cultural wall still prevents minority participation. A 400-year-old legacy of slavery was reinforced by the post-Civil War and Great Depression migration of Black Americans to urban areas. Jim Crow laws restricted their movements, while acts of violence were often perpetrated against Blacks in remote wooded areas. Blacks found safety in their own homes, behind locked doors. Asians and Latinos also live with a history of forced labor outside. Historically they might avoid certain areas because of perceived discrimination. Outdoor spaces are not places of refuge for minority communities.

Minorities within the national parks work force vastly underrepresented. By midcentury, minorities are expected to become the majority in the U.S, but 5.5 percent of the current park system staffing is Hispanic, while 9 percent is black and 1.8 percent is Asian. About 80 percent of the park service work force is White. In a report issued in May, the park service acknowledged it needs to make diversity in both its work force and its visitors a priority.

There's a beautiful world out there that belongs to all Americans. I’m hoping that Black and Brown soon will see green.