Posted on Jun 26, 2022
The National Park Service expands its African-American history sites
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https://www.npr.org/2022/06/26/ [login to see] /the-national-park-service-expands-its-african-american-history-sites
On a cool spring day, Fredrika Newton — the widow of Black Panther co-founder, Huey P. Newton — stands next to a bronze bust of her late husband. It's situated in a wide, landscaped median in the west end of Oakland that the Panthers called home.
"The Black Panther Party is an American story, and that's the job of the National Park Service is to tell the American story," Newton says.
Once upon a time, former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover called the Panthers the "greatest threat to internal security."
A half-century later, as perspectives have mellowed, the Huey Newton statue could eventually become part of a National Historical Park. Other possible stops: the former Panther party headquarters, locations of the group's free medical clinics and free children's breakfast program, and the spot where Newton was murdered. All of it may one day be patrolled by a park ranger in a traditional NPS flat hat.
On a cool spring day, Fredrika Newton — the widow of Black Panther co-founder, Huey P. Newton — stands next to a bronze bust of her late husband. It's situated in a wide, landscaped median in the west end of Oakland that the Panthers called home.
"The Black Panther Party is an American story, and that's the job of the National Park Service is to tell the American story," Newton says.
Once upon a time, former FBI director J. Edgar Hoover called the Panthers the "greatest threat to internal security."
A half-century later, as perspectives have mellowed, the Huey Newton statue could eventually become part of a National Historical Park. Other possible stops: the former Panther party headquarters, locations of the group's free medical clinics and free children's breakfast program, and the spot where Newton was murdered. All of it may one day be patrolled by a park ranger in a traditional NPS flat hat.
The National Park Service expands its African-American history sites
Posted from npr.org
American History
National Park Service
Oakland
Stories
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel RIghtly so!
..."One of the first civil rights sites in the NPS network was the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, established in 1980. It's grown into a major tourist attraction in Atlanta. Visitors can see his birth home, his church, the sprawling visitor center and the World Peace Rose Garden.
But this is not just a place to learn about the life and times of MLK. For the people of Atlanta, the King park continues to connect them to the spirit of non-violence and the struggle for racial justice.
"When Mandela passed away people came here," says Marty Smith, interpretative ranger at the King Historical Park. "When Congressman John Lewis passed away, people came here. George Floyd, people came here. So that just shows you how powerful this site is."
The night that Barack Obama was elected 44th president in 2008, Smith says he walked out onto the grounds and encountered hundreds of people who were drawn to the King historical park to celebrate. That, he says, is living history."
..."One of the first civil rights sites in the NPS network was the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park, established in 1980. It's grown into a major tourist attraction in Atlanta. Visitors can see his birth home, his church, the sprawling visitor center and the World Peace Rose Garden.
But this is not just a place to learn about the life and times of MLK. For the people of Atlanta, the King park continues to connect them to the spirit of non-violence and the struggle for racial justice.
"When Mandela passed away people came here," says Marty Smith, interpretative ranger at the King Historical Park. "When Congressman John Lewis passed away, people came here. George Floyd, people came here. So that just shows you how powerful this site is."
The night that Barack Obama was elected 44th president in 2008, Smith says he walked out onto the grounds and encountered hundreds of people who were drawn to the King historical park to celebrate. That, he says, is living history."
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel thank you Brother William, most informative read/share this morning.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL Bloody Amazing to See Huey Newton Recognized!
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