Honoring Black History Month: African American Contributions to the National Park System

Since 1976, every American president has designated February as Black History Month, a time to reflect on the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans throughout history. The 2025 theme, “African Americans and Labor,” highlights the ways in which “work and working of all kinds—free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, vocational and voluntary—intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.” This month, we honor a few of the remarkable individuals whose legacy continues to inspire us to care for and cherish the natural world.

As we celebrate this theme, we reflect on the ways African Americans have worked to preserve and protect God’s creation through their work in the National Park System.

Robert Stanton: A Trailblazer in Conservation and Faith

In 1997, Robert Stanton made history as the first African American director of the National Park Service (NPS), a monumental achievement that symbolized the intersection of labor, leadership, and a deep faith commitment. Under his leadership, the NPS worked to make national parks more accessible to all Americans, ensuring that diverse communities were represented within the parks and in the stories they tell. Stanton’s work embodied the essence of labor in Black History Month—focusing on both skilled leadership and the tireless effort to make the outdoors a place of spiritual connection and healing for all. His work was grounded in a deep faith that nature is not only sacred but that it calls us to be stewards of God’s creation. As Psalm 19:1 reminds us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”Stanton believed that preserving nature is an act of reverence for the Creator, and his leadership paved the way for future generations to experience the beauty and peace found in our national parks.

George Washington Carver: Faith in the Land

George Washington Carver, a renowned African American scientist and educator, may not have worked directly within the National Park System, but his contributions to agricultural science and conservation reflect the spirit of the Black History Month 2025 theme. Carver’s life’s work, which included promoting crop rotation and sustainable farming methods, helped reshape how we understand our relationship to the land. Carver’s belief in the sanctity of nature and his emphasis on the ethical care of the earth align with the themes of labor and stewardship. He understood the land as a gift from God and worked tirelessly to teach others how to work the land in a way that preserved its health for generations to come. In doing so, Carver modeled a holistic approach to work and creation—a labor of love and devotion that nurtured both the earth and the soul. His work speaks to the importance of finding spiritual purpose in every kind of labor, a theme that resonates deeply with the call to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us.

A Call to Action: Preserving What God Has Given Us

As we reflect on the Black History Month 2025 theme of “African Americans and Labor,” we are reminded of the many African American leaders who have worked in service to the land, preserving it for future generations. From Robert Stanton’s leadership in the National Park Service to George Washington Carver’s contributions to agriculture, these individuals’ work reflects a deep commitment to honoring God through the labor of caring for His creation. Their stories encourage us to consider how our own labor—whether in conservation, ministry, or daily life—can also honor God. As we visit national parks and explore the beauty of nature, we are reminded that the heavens declare the glory of God, and that each act of labor to preserve the earth is an opportunity to reflect His glory.