09/22/2026
“What gets remembered is determined by who is in the room doing the remembering.” 🕊️
— Betty Reid Soskin (1921-2025), the nation’s oldest park ranger
Soskin — who would have turned 105 today — brought untold Black history to light, and inspired future generations.
In 1942, she tried to join the war effort in the boilermakers’ union, which helped build ships in the port of Richmond. But the union was segregated, and she was relegated to sorting index cards.
Combining her passions for music and justice, Soskin became active in the Civil Rights Movement, writing and performing songs for the cause.
In 2000, she was invited to help plan the launch of the Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond. She was the only person of color in the room, she later said.
She became a ranger in the park in 2007, at age 85, narrating guided bus tours, sharing overlooked stories, and making history accessible for everyone.
Even when off duty, Soskin was often seen wearing her ranger uniform.
“I am making every little girl of color aware of a career choice she may not have known she had,” she said.
In 2022, at age 100, she hung up her hat, retiring as a park ranger.
Soskin passed away last year, but her memory lives on at the UC Berkeley Library. In interviews with the Oral History Center, she reflects on art, life, activism, and education. (Link in comments.)
Thank you, Betty, for being in that room — and for remembering. 🫶
Do you have any memories of Betty Reid Soskin? ⤵️
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📸: Luther Bailey/National Park Service
