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A Life of Firsts and Barriers Broken
Soskin’s story was one of breaking barriers and reclaiming forgotten histories. As a civil rights activist, historian, and storyteller, she dedicated more than a century to highlighting narratives that had long been ignored or erased.
Her tenure with the National Park Service (NPS) officially began at age 84, a time when most people are well into retirement, and she continued working until 2022, when she retired at 100 years old.
Long before her ranger uniform, Soskin played a pivotal role in shaping the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park in Richmond, California.
She collaborated closely with city officials and NPS planners to develop a management plan that ensured the stories of African Americans and other people of color—historically absent from the narrative of World War II—were finally recognized.
Her advocacy for inclusivity ensured that the park was not only a commemoration of wartime effort but also a testament to social justice and historical accuracy.
Through a grant funded by PG&E, she spearheaded projects to uncover untold stories of Black Americans who contributed to the World War II home front.
Her work transformed interpretive programs at the park, providing visitors with a nuanced understanding of the era.
Soskin’s presence in the park was magnetic; her storytelling was informed by personal experience, historical research, and a commitment to justice, turning history into a living, breathing narrative.
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