Daniel Tom was the target of racism and bullying growing up in Mesa, Ariz. Decades later here in the small mountain town of Buena Vista in south-central Colorado, life is easier, quieter. Still, there are at least a few signs that make him feel unwelcome – actual signs that read “Chinaman Gulch.”
Dozens of natural landmarks bear names that highlight this nation’s racist history. There are signs of change, but when it comes to renaming public landmarks, government action takes time and often meets pushback, delaying the process further.