Captain Charles Young, First Black National Parks Superintendent

Title: Captain Charles Young, First Black National Parks Superintendent
Description: National Parks are often heralded as important sites of land and wildlife conservation. Before the National Parks Service existed, the United States Army managed National Parks spaces. After fighting as Buffalo Soldiers in the Civil War, Brigadier General Charles Young and his troops were placed on duty at Sequoia National Park. Young was named Acting Superintendent, making him the first Black person in a National Parks leadership role--and at a time when the National Parks were still segregated. As Superintendent, Young completed numerous infrastructure projects like blazing the summit trail to Mount Whitney. This photograph, inscribed by Young, says “Yours for Race and Country, Chas. Young 22, July 1919.” Without minimizing Young’s contributions to the National Parks, we must also consider that the creation of Sequoia National Park displaced the Mono (Monache), Yokuts, Tübatulabal, Paiute, and Western Shoshone peoples from their homelands. We should additionally question why the United States believed it needed armed forces to manage parklands, and whose interests Young’s activities truly served.
Creator: Unknown photographer See all items with this value
Date: July 22, 1919 See all items with this value
Type: Photograph
Format: jpg
Subject: National Parks See all items with this value
Rights: Public domain; courtesy of Library of Congress

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