February is Black History Month, and the 2026 theme selected by Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” This is a time to explore the impact and meaning of Black history commemorations in elevating the status and recognition of Black and African Americans in the modern world. One hundred years ago, the first Negro History Week celebration was held and since then, there have been countless significant achievements made by Black Americans which help improve the lives and well-being of all communities. According to ASALH, “Black history’s value is not its contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the lives of Black people.”
What is now known as environmentalism is not a new concept within the Black community and goes beyond just the natural environment but also includes the social environment. During the times of slavery in the United States, Black people had to cultivate and take care of land that they couldn’t own for centuries while they endured harsh treatment rather than being recognized for the benefit of their labor. Following the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation, while many Black people left the region of their oppression for more urban settings, some remained to continue the agricultural lifestyle as sharecroppers on lands they still could not own and under societal conditions that were vastly unchanged from what was endured previously. Despite these challenges, they persevered for the benefit of feeding the people and providing for their families.
Those who chose to relocate to northern states found that they weren’t always welcomed, and instead of fully integrating, many established their own thriving communities, businesses, and spaces for learning and recreation where they could enjoy, value, and embrace nature.
This includes free Blacks who chose to relocate to the Adirondacks and other areas in New York. Abolitionists like John Brown and Gerrit Smith helped free Blacks settle in the Adirondack region where many built new lives in the rocky terrain as farmers and business owners. Some descendants still call the region home.
In 1999, the organization John Brown Lives! was created to honor his work and build upon a legacy of social justice and human rights for everyone. Signature programs include “Harriet Was Here,” a creative exploration of Harriet Tubman’s remarkable life of activism and service through learning and song, and “Dreaming of Timbuctoo,” an exhibit chronicling the evolution of efforts to provide land to free Black families to help build their legacy in the Adirondacks.
DEC proudly hosts John Brown’s Farm State Historic Site on State Lands and coordinates with State Parks, John Brown Lives! and other organizations in managing the site and working towards improving equity, justice, and accessibility. Learn more about John Brown Farm State Historic Site.
