The environmental group Sierra Club is re-examining the legacy of its founder, John Muir — and the racist views he espoused. 'It's time to take down some of our own monuments,' the group said.
The Sierra Club said protests sparked by George Floyd's death led it to re-examine the legacy of founder John Muir and his derogatory remarks about Blacks and Indigenous people.The Sierra Club said protests sparked by George Floyd's death led it to re-examine the legacy of founder John Muir and his derogatory remarks about Blacks and Indigenous people.Arguably no figure looms larger than John Muir in the history of America's national parks.
"He made derogatory comments about Black people and Indigenous peoples that drew on deeply harmful racist stereotypes," Executive Director Michael Brune wrote on the."As the most iconic figure in Sierra Club history, Muir's words and actions carry an especially heavy weight. They continue to hurt and alienate Indigenous people and people of color who come into contact with the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club noted that Muir's views appeared to evolve over time. Still, the group pointed out that he associated with prominent American eugenicistOther eugenicists – including Joseph LeConte and David Starr Jordan – were also early Sierra Club members and leaders of the organization.
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