Soskin became a celebrated figure in American history for her work as a National Park Service interpreter and ranger at Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California, where she helped shape the park’s narrative to include overlooked stories of women, people of color, and the home front during World War II.
Born Sept. 22, 1921, in Detroit, Soskin grew up in a family with deep roots in African American history and faced racial segregation throughout her youth and early career. During World War II, she worked in a segregated union hall, gaining firsthand experience that later informed her work as a park ranger.
Her influence extended beyond the parks. Soskin co-founded Reid’s Records, one of California’s earliest Black-owned music stores, and was active in civil rights and community work. She delivered presentations that connected national visitors with local and national stories of resilience and service.
The Obama Foundation made a post on X praising Soskin’s lifetime dedication, stating, “In addition to telling her own stories, she also ensured the stories of countless people of color who faced discrimination at home during the war were added to our collective understanding of that time.
— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) December 22, 2025
RELATED CONTENT: National Parks Ordered To Remove Perceived DEI Merchandise
Source: Black Enterprise
