Honoring the Legacy of Historical Black Conservationists

By Julius Marinov

Black Conservationists Throughout History

For this Black Birder’s Week centric special, here are some black figures who have made strides for a much more progressive future through their passions for the natural world. 

George Washington? Carver 

(1865?-???)

Born into slavery, Carver had more access to resources then most other African Americans during this troubling era. Even after the Civil war with slavery being outlawed, his former slave-owners would raise him and his brother as their foster children. He would grow a fondness for agriculture and eventually left the farm to pursue his education at the age of eleven. 

George Carver went to Simpson College for an art major before being encouraged by his art teacher to focus his career on botany. He would be admitted to Iowa State Agricultural College as the first black student in the university. 

After getting a diploma he received and accepted a job offer from Booker. T. Washington to Tuskegee University in Alabama, a place where his greatest inventions would take form.

George realized that after the Civil War,  the American industrialization of agriculture contaminated the soil. This- along with the over-reliance of cotton in the Southern States made most of the crops prone to many disasters. One threat in particular was the invasion of the boll weevil in the United States. In response Carver encouraged farmers to grow nitrogen based plants such as peanuts and soybeans. He created over 300 foods and products out of peanuts- giving him the title of the ‘peanut man’.

George Washington Carver was potentially one of the most important American figures in history for his intellect and good willed nature in order to save the agricultural industry. He taught many farmers methods to protect nature while producing the best yield for their crops. He was a very humble man, only wanting to live his life if it meant that it would help others that would come after him. He was one of the pioneers for American conservation. 

Charles Young 

(???-1922)

The United States first black national park superintendent- Charles Young was a man with many feats to his name. Being born into slavery, he and his family would escape during the ending years of the Civil War. When he was of age he joined the military and served as the first attache, fighting in the Philippine American War. 

Charles would be requested by the US army and was assigned to the Sequoia National Park. After their creation by Theodore Roosevelt - National Parks were still unestablished and required the military to defend them. 

Under the lead of Young, his men would be able to make more sustainable roads and trails that previous groups were incapable of doing, giving him the title of superintendent.

Charles would continue to oversee troops and serve as a military attache in Liberia and Hispaniola. He would also write a book based on this experience and his service in the Philippine- American War.

Charles Young was a man who had begun his life in struggle. Yet over time he became a man of many talents in a world that stared down upon him , from an author and a soldier to a civil rights activist. He was praised by such regarded figures as W.E.B Du Bois and Theodore Roosevelt and would be the highest ranking African American soldier in the US army until his sudden death in 1922

Hattie Carthan 

A New Yorker who was a well known member in her neighborhood of Bedford-Stuy, she had a large interest in botany and particularly trees. Sadly like many regions of New York City in the 20th century, Bedford Stuy was one of the most redlined communities and this was reflected on the desolate environment it once was.

From poverty to the race riots sparked by the death of James Powell in Harlem, Bedford Stuy was a slowly dying neighborhood. There was also another form of racist suppression that had been present since it’s redlining. The lack of trees. Hattie recognized this quickly and soon in the 60’s she would get to planning.

Trees remain to be one of the most important features of urban environments, they take in carbon dioxide and storm water along with cooling neighborhoods without the need for air conditioning. Many neighborhoods that had been redlined lack trees. In a purposeful method of environmental racism to make a neighborhood unappealing to middle class residents. 

Despite struggling with the plan, she would be able to plant four trees on her street. Eventually mayor John Lindsey and the NYC parks service soon caught attention of her idea and endorsed it. Up to 1500 trees were planted within 10 years, revitalizing the neighborhood.

One of the most notable moments in her career was her defense of one singular tree from destruction- a magnolia tree which was blooming way farther North than their usual range of the Southern United States in her neighborhood.

Hattie Carthan stands as an example as to how someone doesn't have to have wealth or power in order to make a huge change within a community or city. Her work has spurred many efforts in the city and beyond to revitalize neighborhoods through flora.

James Carroll 

(1922 - 2001)

Born in 1922 in the Eastwick neighborhood in Southwestern Philadelphia, James was one of the pioneering black birders of the century. The neighborhood was one of the few integrated communities in the city (and one of a few in the country) and was in very close proximity to many marshes which would play an important role in his life and devotion to environmentalism. 

After leaving military service and returning back into the city, he would get a job as the warden for the Tinicum Wildlife Preserve where he would continuously run into two 15 year old birdwatchers who would enlighten him on the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club. He would become the first black person to be accepted into the club. Soon he would also be tasked with overseeing the 1000 acre Tinicum Wildlife refuge. 

Throughout his life James had endured many acts of prejudice. His parents had to move out of their home neighborhood because of redlining. He was even forced to sit out away from his club whenever the group made trips to Delaware because of Jim Crow era segregation laws and his office had suffered two arson attacks. 

Despite all of this James was a man who did not let racial tensions throughout the United States get in front of his passion. 

https://www.nps.gov/chyo/learn/historyculture/charles-young.htm