They are the hidden heroes of the environmental movement Black conservationists. Naturalists and scientists whose achievements were overlooked and under-appreciated throughout the history of the world.
We learn about the legacy of people such as John Muir (aldo leopold), Sir David Attenborough (sir), Rachel Carson, Dr. Jane Goodall, Greta Thunberg, and Sir David Attenborough in history books and popular cultures. Alyssa Johnson, an environmental educator at the National Audubon Society, said that there are many People of Color who merit recognition.
Many Black environmental heroes have been overlooked and under-appreciated for their contributions to the environment.
Alyssa has hosted lectures during Black History Month for the past two years. Montezuma Audubon CenterWe want to highlight Black leaders who have helped preserve some of our most treasured spaces, protect species, and advance knowledge about the natural world.
Audubon is not only raising awareness about those historical contributions but also works to Inspire a new generation Black environmental leadersCreating society chapters at Historically Black Colleges & Universities across the nation
They will build on the legacy left by Black environmental pioneers, who were both literally as well as figuratively trailblazers.
Colonel Charles Young, The First Black Superintendent of National Parks
Charles Young was born 1864 in Mays Lick in Kentucky. His father managed to escape slavery the following year, and he moved his family to Rivertown in Ohio. According to the National Park ServiceYoung excelled in music, academics, and foreign languages. He graduated from an integrated high school at the age of 17 in 1881. Young worked as a teacher for a few years before applying in 1883 to the U.S. Military Academy of West Point. He was accepted a year later. He was the ninth Black student admitted to the prestigious academy. He was only the third Black graduate of the academy in 1889.
Young was a West Point Cadet and his first assignment to Nebraska’s Cavalry. Racial insults and social isolationBut he excelled as an officer. He rose to the rank and was a captain, and fought with distinction during the Phillippine-American War.
Photo credit: Library of Congress
He was a member of an all-Black regiment that served in San Francisco in 1903. He was assigned to protect Sequoia National Parks and General Grant National Parks.
Young was named acting superintendent The young parks have an immediate and lasting impact. He set his regiment, which included nearly 100 soldiers, to work opening roads into remote parks for public accessibility.
According to Audubon MagazineIn the three summers preceding Young’s appointment as acting superintendent, just five miles of road were built. Young managed improvements of 18 miles during the summer of 1903.
The work was slow before Charles Young arrived. Alyssa states that Charles Young exceeded all previous efforts.
Photo credit: National Park Service
Youngs troops also built a trail to Mount Whitney’s 14,500-foot summit, which is the highest point in 48 contiguous states. He was influential in both parks’ expansion under his stewardship. reported Grist Magazine.
Young wrote that a trip from the Sierra Forest Reserve to Mount Whitney will convince even the most inept man about the importance of preserving these mountains with their forest of trees, shrubs, and rocks. Young also noted the importance of these mountains to the valleys below as water reservoirs for agricultural and domestic purposes. Audubon. This is where forest preservation is essential.
MaVynee Bettsch The Beach Lady
Mavynee betsch was born in 1935 to a well-off family in Jacksonville, Fla. Mavynee became a prominent supporter of environmental causes throughout her entire life. Her contribution to the preservation of a prominent barrier island beach with historic cultural significance for Florida’s Black community is highly praised.
Betsch was the great granddaughter Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida’s first Black millionaire. Lewis bought more than 200 acres of beachfront property on Amelia IslandIn the early 20sTh century. American Beach, or as it was known, emerged as a vacation destination of African Americans such as Joe Louis, Ray Charles. Zora Nale Hurston and other prominent Black celebrities were also attracted to the beach.
The community prospered until the Civil Rights Act was passed in 1960, when desegregation opened up new vacation destinations for Black Americans.
MaVynee Bettsch was born on the shores of the cresting waves and sand dunes. She had moved to Europe to pursue a career singing opera. Mavynee betsch was the steward of American Beach and its savior when it fell into decline. dedicating her time to the island and other environmental causes.
Six feet tall, Betsch is a brightly colored woman who prefers brightly colored jewelry and clothing made from beach shells and other stones. She was known as the Beach LadyBecause of her dedication and near-constant presence at the site. She was passionate about the beach and decided to leave the comforts of home to be able to sleep on the shore.
She was instrumental in restoring the community and planted trees along its streets. She also spent a lot of her wealth advocating for the preservation of the beaches after more than 100 acres were sold off to private developers in 1990s. Over the course of 40 years, she donated the rest to dozens local and national conservation organizations.
She speaks out about her passion for American Beach. Sierra Magazine interviewed her.“It’s history, nature and all wrapped up, baby.”
Photo credit: National Park Service
Betsch’s greatest achievement was the preservation and restoration of the NaNa Dune, which is part of the tallest Florida dune system. Betsch’s tireless campaigning led to the donation of the parcel of land by the developer who purchased it.
While some might have found her odd, or even eccentric, they underestimated her dedication to American Beach preservation. Grist magazine reportedBetsch’s profile
Solomon Brown The Smithsonians First Black Employee
Solomon Brown was born in 1829, and grew up in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., where he was raised by his father, who died when he was four. 1952: He was hired by the Smithsonian as a laborer, was established less then a decade ago and grew close to Spencer Fullerton Baird (then-assistant Secretary)
Photo Credit: Smithsonian Institution Archives
He was educated in natural history while working at Baird. He illustrated specimens and maps in many of Baird’s lectures. He also gave talks on topics such The Social Habits of Insects. According to Smithsonian Institution archives. He was not only a naturalist but also an illustrator, lecturer and philosopher.
Brown rose from laborer to clerical positions to a position in the Smithsonian as a naturalist. He served the Smithsonian for more than 50 years. Brown spoke on topics including water, air, food and coal, as well fungi, plant embryos and geology. Encyclopedia.com reports.
Dr. Jessie Price Duck Scientist and Veterinary Microbiologist
Jessie Price is a Cornell University graduate. She is known for developing and testing vaccines to protect ducks. Price was an expert in the identification of diseases in Pekin ducklings. She worked at Cornell Duck Research Laboratory, as well as other prestigious institutions, beginning in the 1950s. She discovered that they were dying from E. Coli and Duck Hepatitis. Also, they had a respiratory disease called Pasteurella Anatipestifer.
Photo credit: Duck Research Laboratory, Cornell
Price was responsible in saving the environment from a deadly disease that could have devastating effects on avian species. According to POC Squared.
Her vaccines, which include one to prevent avian-cholera, have been widely used in the United States as well as Canada. Her research has been used for the benefit of Canada geese.
John Edmonstone, The Man Who Taught Darwin Taxidermy
Guyana, South America’s Guyana country where you were born enslaved. John Edmonstone learned to preserve the skins of birdsCharles Waterton, a naturalist. John was made free by his enslaver who returned to Scotland. John worked at the university’s Zoology Museum in Edinburgh and taught taxidermy to individuals. He met Charles Darwin as a teenager and taught him taxidermy there.
Edmonstone’s skills taught Darwin were crucial to the success of the English naturalists. Explore the globe from 1831-1836The trip included a visit the Galapagos Islands which was inspiring His thoughts on evolution.
Photo Credit: Darwin State Museum
Alyssa says that Darwin collected nearly 500 specimens of bird skins. He learned all this from John Edmondstone.
According to the Natural History Museum of London, the Darwin collected the most scientifically compelling specieswere part of the Galapagos mockingbirds.
Alyssa says that Darwin’s views and opinions on evolution were triggered by the Galapagos mockingbird. John Edmondstone would have given us the understanding of evolution we have today. But Edmondstone is not the name we know.