Shelton Johnson

Roles: Special Guest

Although Shelton Johnson was born and raised in Detroit, MI., early childhood experiences in Germany and England, specifically Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, and the Black Forest, followed by later service with the Peace Corps in Liberia, West Africa, influenced him enough to eventually pursue a career as a National Park Ranger. He has found his home in Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Great Basin, and finally Yosemite where for 25 years he has told the story of African American soldiers who served as some of the first official guardians of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. This passion to connect African Americans to America’s Best Idea led to decades of media engagement and culminated in his collaboration with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan on their PBS documentary film, “The National Parks, America’s Best Idea” in 2009, The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2010, and a recent profile in The New York Times in 2021. Today he works as the Community Engagement Specialist for Yosemite National Park.