The Unhidden Minute

A Chinese American chef named Tie Sing worked for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in California through the early 20th century. As head cook on major mapping expeditions, his role was far more critical than it might seem. His creative meals nourished surveyors while on grueling journeys through the rugged terrain of the American West. Sing became a legend within the USGS for his ingenuity, using minimal supplies and often cooking in extreme conditions at high altitudes. His skill and reliability were so valued that Stephen Mather, a founding figure of the National Park Service, hired him to cook for a 1915 trip to Yosemite intended to win political and financial support for the new parks system. The success of that trip helped lead to the creation of the National Park Service in 1916. Tie Sing’s story is a reminder that even those behind the scenes helped to explore the American landscape and ultimately to protect it.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

The Wereth 11 were a group of Black American soldiers who were captured, tortured, and executed by Nazi troops near Wereth, Belgium, on December 17, 1944. Part of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion during the Battle of the Bulge these men had sought refuge in the home of a Belgian farmer after their unit was overrun. Betrayed to the Germans by a local collaborator, they were taken outside the village, brutally beaten, and murdered.

Despite the atrocity, considered a war crime, their story was buried for decades, overshadowed by larger wartime narratives and the systemic racism that minimized the heroism and suffering of Black soldiers. It wasn’t until the late 1990s that researchers and the families of the fallen succeeded in gaining recognition. Today, a memorial in Wereth honors these men, reminding visitors of both their sacrifice and the long fight for justice in American military history. It is one of the few memorials in Europe dedicate to the contributions of Black Soldiers in World War II

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

William Monroe Trotter was a pioneering Black journalist, activist, and civil rights leader. His uncompromising demand for racial equality helped to shape Black political thought in the early 20th-century. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, and educated at Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude, Trotter became one of the most outspoken critics of racial accommodation and segregation. As founder and editor of The Guardian, a militant weekly newspaper, he used sharp editorials to challenge racism and expose injustice.

Trotter co-founded the Niagara Movement alongside W.E.B. Du Bois, in 1905 the precursor of the NAACP. A controversial figure he directly confronted Booker T. Washington’s promotion of vocational training and gradual social change. In 1913, Trotter personal chastised President Woodrow Wilson over the segregation of federal agencies. During a heated White House meeting, Trotter accused the president of betraying his campaign promises of fairness and equality, a betrayal of the American People.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Lieutenant Colonel George E. Hardy (1925–2025) was one of the last surviving members of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering group of Black aviators who shattered racial barriers during World War II. Born in Philadelphia, Hardy enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1943 and trained at the Tuskegee Army Airfield in Alabama, earning his wings in 1944. As a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, he flew 21 combat missions over Europe in a P-51 Mustang, escorting bombers and engaging enemy aircraft.

After World War II, Hardy continued his service, flying 45 missions in Korea and more than 70 in Vietnam, distinguishing himself as one of the few pilots to serve in three major conflicts. His career exemplified courage and resilience in the face of segregation and systemic racism.

Hardy spent his later years as an educator and public speaker, sharing the Tuskegee legacy to inspire future generations and ensure their contributions were never forgotten.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American history with the stories remarkable features of our past that are too often forgotten. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of men and women who helped to shape the progress of our nation.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Fannie Lou Hamer (October 6, 1917 – March 14, 1977) was a powerful voice in the Civil Rights Movement, renowned for her fight for voting rights and economic justice. Born into a sharecropping family of 20 children in Mississippi, she began laboring in cotton fields at age six and left school by age twelve. In 1962, at age 45, she joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and was fired after failing a literacy test This formative loss propelled her into full-time activism. She co-founded and served as vice-chair of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, delivering a moving testimony at the 1964 Democratic National Convention that exposed white supremacist policies and challenged the all-white delegation.

Hamer endured brutal beatings, arrests, and forced sterilization but her resolve remained unwavering. Her motto, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired,” symbolized her resilience and moral urgency. Posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, Hamer’s legacy continues to inspire movements for justice and equality.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Robert Stanton (1940– ) was the 15th Director of the National Park Service (NPS) and the first Black American to hold the position, serving from 1997 to 2001 under President Bill Clinton. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Stanton earned a degree in recreation and park administration from Huston–Tillotson University. His NPS career began in 1962 as a seasonal ranger at Grand Teton National Park.

Over nearly four decades, Stanton rose through the ranks, serving as superintendent of National Capital Parks–East and later as NPS regional director for the National Capital Region. As Director, he worked to expand diversity within the NPS workforce, improve community outreach, and elevate the recognition of sites significant to Black American history, including the designation of several national monuments and historic sites. Stanton’s leadership helped lay the foundation for a more inclusive interpretation of public lands, ensuring the NPS better reflects the full American story.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy of The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Betty Reid Soskin (1921– ) is a trailblazing figure who was the oldest active U.S. National Park Ranger until her retirement at age 100. Born in Detroit and raised in Oakland, Soskin lived through nearly a century of American history, experiencing segregation, the Great Depression, and the civil rights movement firsthand. During World War II, she worked as a file clerk in a segregated shipyard union hall, an experience that shaped her understanding of racial inequities throughout the United States. Ranger Betty served with distinction at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.

As a park ranger, Soskin brought her lived experience to the interpretation of history, offering deeply personal presentations that connected the past to present struggles for equality. She inspired generations to recognize the unfinished work of democracy. Soskin’s legacy is one of resilience, activism, and the power of storytelling to drive social change. Her wisdom inspired this podcast.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

(Photo courtesy of Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond)

Lieutenant Colonel Lee Archer was a decorated Tuskegee Airman and one of the few Black American fighter pilots to achieve ace status during World War II. Born on September 6, 1919, in Yonkers, New York, Archer joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1941 and trained at Tuskegee Army Airfield. As a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, he flew 169 combat missions in the European theater, escorting bombers and engaging enemy aircraft. Archer is credited with shooting down four enemy planes, making him one of the most successful Black American pilots of the war. After his military service, he had a distinguished career in business and government, working to promote diversity in aviation and corporate leadership. Archer’s contributions to the war effort and his impact on civil rights paved the way for future generations of Black aviators. His legacy remains a testament to courage and perseverance to break barriers in aviation, the military, and beyond.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates the enduring legacy of American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American historical figures, events and cultural contributions.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

The Yorktown Battlefield in Virginia is known for its pivotal role as the site of the decisive victory of the Continental Army over the British in 1781that ended the American Revolutionary War. However, during the Civil War, it became a critical site for Black Americans seeking freedom. In 1862, as Union forces advanced, thousands of enslaved people fled to Union lines from the South, forming what were known as "contraband camps." These camps were shelters for the newly escaped, offering food, shelter, and work. They symbolized the early stages of emancipation. More than a century later, this site would become the home of a thriving Black community.

However, in the 1970s, the construction of the Colonial National Historical Park and the expansion of the Yorktown Battlefield led to the displacement of Black families who had lived in the area for generations long before the park's establishment. The removal of these homes reflects a long history of marginalized communities being uprooted in the name of historic preservation.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series elevates the untold stories of Black American history.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Original photograph by James Edward Mills

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a free copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.

Gordon Parks (1912–2006) was a groundbreaking Black American photographer, filmmaker, and writer whose work forever shaped American culture. Born in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks grew up in poverty and experienced the harsh realities of segregation. Despite these challenges, he taught himself photography and used the camera as a tool for social change. His early photo essays revealed systemic racism and poverty, including his iconic American Gothic portrait of Ella Watson, a Black cleaning woman in Washington, D.C.

In 1948, Parks became the first Black staff photographer at Life magazine, where he documented civil rights struggles, urban life, and portraits of leading figures. His vision extended into film, directing The Learning Tree (1969), based on his youth in Fort Scott, and Shaft (1971), which transformed Hollywood’s representation of Black heroes. Today, the Fort Scott National Historic Site preserves the legacy of his hometown, where Parks’s story is honored as part of the broader Black American experience.

The Joy Trip Project celebrates American History. The Unhidden Minute is part of the Unhidden Podcast Project supported through a National Geographic Explorer Grant from the National Geographic Society, with the cooperation of the National Park Service. This series aims to elevate the untold stories of Black Americans who are too often left out of the stories share about our common national heritage.

#unhiddenblackhistory #NationalParkService #yourparkstory #NationalGeographic #unhiddenminute

Become a paid subscriber to the Unhidden Minute Podcast for one year and receive a copy The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors 10th Anniversary Edition by James Edward Mills.