DO YOU SEE GREEN SPACES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

DO YOU SEE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WORKING IN GREEN SPACES?

For many of you, the answer may be no. But Black people have been pioneers in leading and developing our natural resources as farmers, foresters, and conservationists in America.

COLONIAL AMERICA (1500s-1776)

In colonial America, enslaved people cleared much of the forests in the South for agricultural needs, like cotton, and lived connected to the land and forests where they were kept.

They used their knowledge of the forests to survive and often to escape. Many runaway slaves hid in the forests and even established colonies in the woods of many southern states.

EARLY AMERICA (1776-1900)

After the Civil War, Black Americans’ relationship with the forests changed. Terrorist organizations that opposed Black freedom used the forest to mask their movements, and forests became a venue for lynching.

In the 19th century, as farming proved to be increasingly unprofitable, Black Americans found alternative sources of employment in the forests. Black Americans used forests for sustenance, and herbal medicine, while also being key places for worship, spirituality, and escape.

MODERN AMERICA (1900-PRESENT)

In the 1900s, Black people made up 25% of the forest sector workforce, and during the Great Depression, young Black men carried out much needed conservation work on national forests and other public lands.

After WWII and during the height of the American segregation era, Black students were dissuaded from considering careers in forestry and agriculture. Today, the forest sector continues to struggle with workforce diversity, as a recent U.S. Census Survey found that less than 3% of foresters and conservation scientists identify as African American.

Throughout history, Black people have shown consistent resiliency and a love for nature that is ingrained in their culture. Regardless of where you live, you can be a part of building a resilient environment and making a difference.