Although historical conservation has largely been viewed as a predominantly white-led movement, it is important to note that Black individuals have played a significant role in it. Thus, we humbly recognize and pay tribute to a mere handful of these trailblazers here. (More posts to come)
Solomon Brown
1829-1906
Solomon Brown, the first African-American worker of the Smithsonian Institution, worked for three secretaries during his tenure. Despite his lack of formal education, he progressed in his career by composing letters that captured the daily life of a free Black man during the Civil War era. He also enriched himself with knowledge on natural history and became the creator of various maps and specimens. Brown delivered speeches on various topics, including "The Social Habits of Insects." Poetry was another form of expression he utilized, and today, numerous trees in his name line the National Museum of Natural History premises in Washington, D.C., thus preserving his memory.
Captain Charles Young
1864-1922
Charles Young's parents escaped enslavement, and his father joined the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery shortly before the end of the Civil War in 1865. His family relocated from Kentucky to Ohio, and Young spent his remaining childhood days there. Being an excellent student, his father encouraged him to apply to West Point where he became only the third African-American to graduate from the institution. In spite of encountering prejudice, he climbed up the ranks and was eventually promoted to the position of Captain.
In 1903, Young made history by becoming the first Black national park superintendent when he and his troops were entrusted with managing Sequoia National Park in northern California. Initially, the U.S. Army was responsible for safeguarding the national parks in those early years. Young and his troops effectively used local townsfolk to help with road construction while also tackling poaching, illegal logging, and sheep grazing. He stated that “A journey through this park and the Sierra Forest Reserve to the Mount Whitney country will convince even the least thoughtful man of the needfulness of preserving these mountains just as they are, with their clothing of trees, shrubs, rocks, and vines, and of their importance to the valleys below as reservoirs for storage of water for agricultural and domestic purposes.”
MaVynee Betsch "The Beach Lady"
1935-2005
The granddaughter of Florida's original Black millionaire, A.L. Lewis, chose to help the environment over pursuing her career in the opera. She was passionate about preserving the African-American beach, American Beach, located on Amelia Island, Florida. A.L. Lewis had established this beach during the Jim Crow era, offering respite for Blacks who were not allowed on other beaches. Betsch had personally experienced these indignities.
Although Betsch traveled to Germany and France to perform on stage, she gave it all up to return to her home in Florida. Moreover, she donated her considerable inheritance to ecological causes. She later guided schoolchildren and made them aware of American Beach's significance.
As per the Smithsonian magazine, before her passing, she sported dreadlocks in shades of grey, styled into a bun, cascading past her ankles. Also, her clothes were adorned with political buttons that were both comical and radical with expressions of her commitment to social and racial justice, animal rights, and vegetarianism.
As we celebrate the history of Black people this month, I want to show my appreciation for the tireless efforts of Black leaders in the environmental movement. I promise to continue sharing and acknowledging the accomplishments of these and other leaders not just during this month, but throughout the year. My ultimate aim is to ensure that the contributions of marginalized leaders in the environmental space are acknowledged and their message is heard loud and clear, always. Diversity is just as important as biodiversity.
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