Betty Reid Soskin, the nation’s oldest park ranger when she retired in 2022 at age 100, and a trailblazer in preserving the history of Black Americans and women, died Dec. 21. She was 104.
Soskin devoted her life to telling stories that might otherwise have gone untold, highlighting the contributions of marginalized communities and ensuring that forgotten voices were brought to the forefront of American history.
Born Betty Charbonnet in Detroit on Sept. 22, 1921, Soskin spent her early years in New Orleans with her Creole family. She survived the devastating Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, an event that displaced her family and prompted their move to Oakland. Her childhood experiences shaped her understanding of race, resilience and community, laying the foundation for her lifelong commitment to advocacy and justice.
During World War II, Soskin worked as a file clerk for the U.S. Air Force but resigned after discovering that her employers had hired her under the assumption that she was white. This pivotal moment illuminated the systemic racism of the era and fueled her passion for equity and truth-telling. She later worked in a segregated unit of the Boilermakers union, where she witnessed firsthand the discrimination faced by Black workers in the wartime industry.
In 1945, she and her first husband, Mel Reid, founded Reid’s Records in Berkeley, one of the first Black-owned record stores in the Bay Area. For nearly 75 years, the store served as a community hub, providing music and resources to South Berkeley’s Black community. It was also a space for activism and cultural exchange, reflecting Soskin’s enduring dedication to uplifting marginalized voices.
Soskin’s advocacy took on new dimensions later in life when she became a prominent voice at the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond. Starting as a temporary employee at the age of 84, she became a permanent National Park Service ranger in 2011.
Over the next 15 years, she shared her personal experiences and those of African American workers during the war, shedding light on the racial segregation and systemic challenges of the era. Her storytelling drew large audiences, captivated by her firsthand accounts and her insistence on an inclusive historical narrative.
“What gets remembered is a function of who’s in the room doing the remembering,” Soskin often said.
She worked tirelessly to ensure that the contributions of women and Black Americans during World War II were not overshadowed in the broader historical narrative. Her efforts were instrumental in shaping the park’s mission and its dedication to uncovering overlooked histories.
Soskin’s impact extended far beyond the park. She was honored as California Woman of the Year in 1995 and received numerous accolades throughout her life, including a presidential coin from President Barack Obama in 2015 after she lit the National Christmas Tree at the White House.
In 2022, on the day of her 100th birthday, the West Contra Costa Unified School District renamed Juan Crespi Middle School in El Sobrante in her honor, celebrating her legacy with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by local leaders, students and her family. The renaming process was driven by students and teachers who sought to honor a local figure dedicated to equity and justice.
At the ceremony, Soskin was showered with flowers and presented with a birthday cake.
“I don’t know what one might do to justify a long life,” she said. “I think that you have pretty much got it made.”
The renaming of Betty Reid Soskin Middle School was the culmination of a student-led movement to honor a local figure whose legacy stood for truth and justice. The students researched their former namesake, Juan Crespi, a Spanish Franciscan missionary, and learned about the mission system’s exploitation of Indigenous peoples.
Inspired by the social justice movements of the COVID-19 pandemic, they sought to rename the school for someone who embodied resilience and advocacy.
“I learned a lot these past couple of months, being on the naming committee and doing the project in general,” said Anaya Zenad, a former student who helped lead the renaming effort.
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, who attended the renaming ceremony, grew emotional as he spoke about Soskin’s impact.
“We have someone who has fought for civil rights, for women’s rights, for racial justice, and our children deserve to have someone to look up to,” he said at the ceremony.
Her personal resilience was as remarkable as her professional achievements. In 2016, at the age of 94, she survived a violent home invasion, during which she was assaulted and robbed. Despite the trauma, Soskin returned to work weeks later, demonstrating her unyielding strength and dedication to her mission.
Soskin’s life and work were chronicled in her memoir, Sign My Name to Freedom, which inspired both a stage play and a documentary.
The documentary, Sign My Name to Freedom: The Lost Music of Betty Reid Soskin, directed by Bryan Gibel, explores her life through the lens of her music, activism, and reflections on systemic racism.
“Betty’s life story is a testament to the resilience and strength of those who face systemic challenges yet refuse to be defined by them,” Gibel said.
The film captures intimate moments from her life, including her rediscovery of old recordings and her performance at Oakland’s Paramount Theatre with the Oakland Symphony and a 200-person choir.
Soskin’s dedication to justice and education was evident in her involvement with the civil rights movement and her work for former state Assemblymembers Dion Aroner and Loni Hancock. She fought for fair housing and educational opportunities for marginalized communities, emphasizing the need for systemic change in policies that disproportionately affected Black and low-income families.
Her tireless advocacy and presence at legislative meetings ensured that equity remained a focus in California politics.
Even after retiring at age 100, Soskin continued to inspire through public appearances and reflections on her life, a powerful reminder of the importance of storytelling and preserving the full scope of history.
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