Black Heritage Sites and the National Register of Historic Places: A Snapshot in Time

Abstract

This article explores the historical underrepresentation and recent revitalization of African American heritage sites within the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Historically, Black heritage sites accounted for approximately 2% of total listings, a disparity highlighted by the social justice movements of 2020. However, recent data reveals a significant upward trend, with these sites reaching nearly 13% of annual listings by 2024. The author examines structural inflection points in 1986 and 1997 that codified ethnic heritage as an area of significance, while arguing that the primary barrier to equity has been a lack of institutional prioritization rather than the federal nomination process itself. Through case studies in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Oregon, the findings suggest that proactive state-level funding, community-led documentation, and the development of historic contexts allow the NRHP to successfully incorporate diverse narratives without requiring fundamental structural changes.