Posted on 10/31/2011 7:21:57 AM PDT by CW_Conservative
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For more than 60 years, the National Park Service has been trying to reach out to African Americans and Latinos. But its 395 parks, monuments, waterways, historic places and recreational areas remain largely the province of white Americans and tourists from around the world.
In an interview, Park Service Director Jon Jarvis reiterated an old lament: Parks must attract a more diverse slice of the American public or eventually risk losing taxpayer support. Yet only about 1% of the nearly 4 million people who visit Yosemite each year are African Americans.
So officials were elated earlier this month when they learned that two groups of African Americans... were touring the park on the same day.
That meant there were more than 65 black Americans on the valley floor on the same day, an event so rare that ranger Shelton Johnson... called it "possibly unprecedented."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Beautiful scenery ... crappy outhouses ...
those “racist” white folks have been keeping minorities out of the national parks for over 100 years.
They could reach out to the Mexican/Colombian drug cartels, who have found U.S. national parks quite useful.
Nothing to steal there...and, nothing is being given away?
I’m not sure I understand why a diverse visitor population is important. Shouldn’t the visitor base be dependent solely on those who enjoy the particular amenities provided by the park? Yosemite and Yellowstone are great places to visit. Death Valley, not so much. I wonder how much taxpayer money will be wasted trying to entice or subsidize minority groups in order to diversify the visitors. Some things just need to be left alone.
Not on the bus line...
W, T, and F? Parks are ecosystems, not television shows.
I was in Yosemite for a week a couple of months ago and what they say about the typical visitor is quite true: white people and many, many foreigners.
It seemed odd to me. I really can’t explain it. But if blacks and Hispanics (the missing demographic elements) don’t want to visit Yosemite THAT IS UP TO THEM, NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
In the case of Hispanics I can vouch for the fact that they are great lovers of parks. In the area I live in they take more advantage of the parks than do the majority of the white folks. I think that is because THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO DO. Should the government be in there trying to discourage them so as to get a better “mix”. What hogwash.
Never, never, never understimate the stupidity of the politically correct.
Actually, this is clear proof that nature is racist.
Are you sure you didn’t write this?
I doubt the African American or Latino population is going to be against federal taxes going to support the National Parks, given they aren’t typically part of the the tax paying base.
Typical Libtard reaction.
Equal ACCESS to the park, does not ensure equal demographics.
If a segment doesn’t wish to partake of an OPPORTUNITY, I see no reason to provide racial favoritism to that group. I don’t get special rates when I visit Harlem or Mexico - in fact, I face special ‘dis-incentives’ to visit those areas.
Just check out San Gabriel Canyon on any Sunday evening and you can see what Yosemite is going to look like...
http://www.modernhiker.com/2011/09/08/angeles-trashed-over-labor-day/comment-page-1/
Stick your damn diversity!
Those must be the parks with White bears only signs.
Why would someone drive seven hours for “rocks” when they can buy ‘em on the corner, yo.
I find it compelling and odd that some people can’t get their heads around cultural deficits when they’re getting slapped in the face with them.
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