Cassius Cash is the first African American to serve as superintendent of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited park in the National Park System.
A native of Memphis, Cash has sought in his precedent-setting role to reach out to help young members of the black community to connect to nature. He is also spearheading efforts to use the park as a forum for spiritual and emotional healing in the wake of discussions about racial injustice in America.
In this interview, he discusses what drove him to seek out natural spaces, the important role national parks play in the “forever business” and what makes the Smoky Mountains such a special, beloved place.
See the Smokies and other beautiful areas in America’s backcountry in Into America’s Wild 3D, a new IMAX film now showing at the Tennessee Aquarium IMAX 3D Theater.
