Election 2024 Results

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

As a part of the celebration, national parks will be  encouraging audiences to explore programs in your own backyard. But there has been some criticism that national parks struggled to attract people from diverse communities.  

Carolyn Finney, author of Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors talks about how African Americans have historically struggled with racism in rural America. 

Finney recounts reactions from four black folks from Oakland, Calif.,  talking about the possibilities of cruising the back roads of Montana, the response was "are you nuts?". She describes the difficulties of changing attitudes and perceptions.  

And John Anfinson - Superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area talks to Tom about the future of national parks and how they are reaching new audiences from all walks of life.

On August 25, the National Park Service celebrates 100 years. Tom looks at how national parks have shaped our lives and explores why national parks remain an often unknown resource to diverse communities.

On August 25, the National Park Service celebrates 100 years. Tom Weber looked at how the national parks have shaped our lives and explore why national parks remain an often unknown resource to diverse communities with  Carolyn Finney, author of "Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors," and John Anfinson, superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. 8/18/16

National Park Service celebrates 100 years

Go Deeper.

Like this?

Turn Up Your Support