The Trump administration is erasing the history of Black Americans on public lands across the country, according to a new article from the Center for American Progress.
The administration has implemented a series of orders to censor or rewrite historical exhibits, particularly those targeting the history and impact of Black Americans on public lands. Examples include the administration’s rollback of fee-free days to national parks on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, as well as President Donald Trump’s executive order to restore “truth and sanity” to national public lands by censoring any signage that paints a negative picture of American history.
A recent example includes the administration’s removal of interpretive panels outside the President’s House Site—George Washington’s former home—that tell the stories of Black Americans enslaved by Washington. The move drew widespread public backlash, and a U.S. federal judge recently ordered the panels be put back up.
“An America confident in its future does not fear its past,” the article reads. “The federal government must protect and strengthen the integrity of historical interpretation across America’s public lands and waters, restore and expand public access—including on commemorative days that honor Black history—and invest in storytelling that reflects the complexity of the American experience.”
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Quote of the day
When you say roadless areas, some people think we can’t do anything in those areas. The Roadless Rule was established to limit or restrict new roads in these areas that don’t have roads. It wasn’t designed to say you can’t go hiking, you can’t do fire management activities.”
—Brian Riggers, retired Region 1 roadless coordinator and fisheries biologist, Missoula Current
Picture This
Early winter storms have brought vibrant blooms to landscapes across California. At Carrizo Plain National Monument, strong rainfall years can paint the Temblor Mountains in sweeping bands of color like those seen here.
If you’re planning a visit, stay on designated roads and trails to protect fragile blooms. Some areas may still be wet or impassable, so check conditions before heading out.
For additional wildflower viewing opportunities, visitors can explore the Merced River Recreation Management Area in Mariposa County, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Lake County, and Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County.
Photo by Bob Wick / @mypubliclands
(Featured image: George Washington Carver bust at George Washington Carver National Monument, Missouri. National Park Service)