What do our national parks mean to us? As we approach the National Park Service’s centennial, this question becomes especially relevant. For American Latinos, having the National Park System be a storyteller of the past means Latinos see their stories and legacy represented in our national parks and monuments.
The César E. Chávez National Monument is a perfect example. Established to commemorate Chávez’s efforts in the farm worker movement that culminated in the creation of the United Farm Workers of America, the César E. Chávez National Monument is one of the Obama Administration’s most notable advances to recognize the contributions of American Latinos.
But more must be done to ensure that America’s monuments and national parks reflect our nation’s rich and diverse history.
The above excerpt was originally published in HuffPost Latino Voices.
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