Testimony: African-American Cultural Heritage and Environmental Justice

By virtue of the sites they manage and the stories the agency interprets and shares the National Park Service (NPS) is one of the largest stewards of African American history and culture in the United States. All the elements of the African American experience, from Civil War to civil rights and beyond, are captured in the stories and the resources preserved by NPS. As we reflect upon the achievements, struggles and contributions of black Americans during this Black History Month we must recognize that national parks, NPS historians and interpretive rangers and the historic and cultural resource programs they manage are making our history more inclusive, relevant and compelling. And that in the commemoration of the African American experience lies the key to engaging a more diverse constituency for national parks and public lands.