We often hear “the outdoors are for all” – but did you know the National Park Service was segregated until 1945? Our community has been learning and unlearning so much about what we were taught (or weren’t at all), and Black History Month provides an opportunity to deepen our historical understandings, reshape narratives, and move forward towards more equitable futures.
This February, we’re celebrating Black History Month by learning about Black outdoor historical figures and today’s generation of Black outdoorists bringing revolution, advocacy, art and joy into nature.
Dive in below to get started with articles, films, books, podcasts, social media and more:
Folks to stay tuned to all month:
- Laura Edmonson’s Instagram story highlights are always a gift to learn from, and her Black History Month lessons are no exception. Start with this post, then buckle up and dive into her resources on history, the nuance of language, AAVE and more.
- Outdoor Afro is highlighting Black historical figures in the outdoors, historic places for recreation, and recent achievements by Black individuals related to the outdoors. Here’s the first post in their series to get you started––and be sure to check out their new Empower by Nature collection with Parks Project.
- James Edward Mills, aka Joy Trip Project, is doing a month-long project he’s calling the #JoyTripBlackHistoryProject2021. From names you might recognize like Dred Scott to Black historical figures you may not know (yet) like poet Phillis Wheatley Peters.
- Chelsea Murphy aka She Colors Nature is hosting a research and journaling prompt series celebrating Black women where she invites participants to take a prompt, do their own Googling, then spend time privately reflecting. Get started with Day One here.
- Noami Grevemberg has an ongoing BHM highlight sharing her experiences as a Black immigrant, historical lessons, spotlights on Black futures and more.
- Follow the #BlackOutdoorJoy hashtag on Instagram, created by nature photographer Gina Danza.
BLACK HISTORY AND FUTURES IN THE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY ARTICLES:
- “‘Skiing Is About Joy:’ Park City Artist Takes Black Representation From His Canvas To The Mountains” via KUER
- “Backpacking in America as a Person of Color: Hikers Share Their Experiences” via The Trek
- This article called “Black in Business” by Latria Graham interviews four Black outdoor industry business owners for the Outdoor Retailer Magazine.
- “Outdoor Industry: We Don’t Want Your Hashtags, We Want Action!” open letter by Grace Anderson
- “Celebrating Black History Month: Champions of the Outdoors” by the Wildwood Outdoor Education Center
- “African American Leaders In The Outdoors That Inspire Us” via Hipcamp
- “A New ‘Outdoors’ Chapter in Black History” via Youth Outside
BOOKS + STUDIES TO READ:
- “Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors” by Dr. Carolyn Finney
- “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” by James Edward Mills
- “Racial Complexities of Outdoor Spaces: An Analysis of African American’s Lived Experiences in Outdoor Recreation” thesis by Matthew Charles Goodrid (2018)
EDUCATION EVENTS:
- “Join us for an uncomfortable conversation about the N word” is a virtual event hosted by Pocket Media, Outdoor Industry Association and Outdoor Media for Inclusion on February 16th. The panel includes Teresa Baker, Alison Mariella Désir, Carolyn Finney, Ph.D., Devin Dabney and Dhani Jones. Get registered here.
- Slim Pickins Outfitters is hosting a virtual panel discussion on February 17th, in collaboration with the Outbound Collective, Wondercamp and HOKA ONE ONE. This event will be moderated by Latria Graham and include ASL interpretation.
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- The California Recreate Responsibly Coalition Chapter has produced a timely webinar series for February: “Building an Inclusive Outdoors: Honoring Black History Month.” The series features two separate webinars:
– Tuesday, February 9: The More you Snow: Stories of American History in Snow Sports
– Tuesday, February 23: From Untold to Bold: Highlighting Black Stories in the Outdoors
– Register here for these two events!
- If you happen to live in PA, check out these Black History Month bike, jog, garden and Zumba events (both in-person and virtual) hosted by Venture Outdoors in collaboration with Black-led organizations in historically significant Black spaces.
WATCH + LISTEN:
- “Reclaiming Our Time: Black Faces, White Spaces & the Possibility of Us” with Dr. Carolyn Finney at Sterling College
- “Reclaiming Our Time: Black Faces, White Spaces & the Possibility of Us” with Dr. Carolyn Finney at Sterling College
- “Buffalo Soldiers and the Importance of Hidden History” with Ranger Shelton Johnson
- “Brothers of Climbing: Represent and Reach” a film presented by REI
- “Recolor the Outdoors” at TEDxSanAntonio by Alex Bailey
- “Inclusion & the Outdoors with Judy Kasiama – Founder of Colour the Trails” via the When Women Fly podcast
- “Unlikely Hikers 10: Chelsea Murphy Colors Nature” via the Unlikely Hikers podcast
ORGS TO KNOW:
- Greening Youth Foundation
- Outdoor Journal Tour / #WeHiketoHeal
- Outdoor Afro
- PGM ONE
- Black Girls Trekkin’
- Color The Crag
- Melanin Base Camp
- GirlTrek
- Brown Girls Climb
- Black Girls Run
- Black Girls Surf
- The Outdoor CEO Pledge
- In Solidarity Project
- Diversify Outdoors
- We Color Outside
- Colour The Trails
ADDITIONAL ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES:
- “Challenging the Narrative and Amplifying Voices: Resources for Education and Inclusivity in the Outdoor Industry” by The Trek
- Celebrate Black History Month with Outdoor Afro
- “It’s time to own up to the racism and violence embedded in the names of parks and public lands” via the Wilderness Society
- Anti-Racism Resources for Climbers by Lanisha Renee Blount
- Honoring Black History Month: Anti-Racism in the Outdoors via SheFly
- American Hiking Society’s “Racism in the Outdoors: Resources” page
- “Breaking Down the Lack of Diversity in Outdoor Spaces” by the National Health Foundation
- Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship
These resources from around our community are a mere starting point for learning about the past, present and future of the Black community in the outdoors. If you’ve got a Black History Month resource we’re missing, send it to us and we’ll add it to the growing list!
As we celebrate, learn and unlearn this month, let’s remember that Black history and futures aren’t just a moment in time on our calendars––justice and anti-racism are a lens through which we should constantly be viewing and shaping our advocacy work and lives. Onward, together.