Some Background

I feel deeply connected to the outdoors. As a kid, I didn’t have a ton of access to parks that didn’t include a dilapidated playground. So, I got a lot of my “outdoor experience” through television and books. As an adult, I find myself lacking some of the courage it takes to explore open forests and woodlands even though I fully have the desire to. I’m not alone in this.

I recognize that there’s a lot of fear within the diasporic-Black American community when discussing going into and/or becoming one with nature. Much of it stems from the historically negative treatment we’ve received in woods and forests and open rural lands at the hands of white supremacist people and systems. Interestingly, the National Parks Services played a role in that.

The history of the National Park Service (NPS) has been marked by systemic racism and discrimination towards Black and African American people. For decades, NPS faced issues of segregation, exclusion, and racial profiling within national parks, which were originally established as refuges for more affluent white visitors.

Creating opportunities for Black artists, writers, and historians to contribute to the interpretation and storytelling within the parks can help amplify diverse narratives and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the historical context. Furthermore, the NPS could establish programs that encourage greater participation in outdoor activities by providing grants and resources to organizations dedicated to getting Black folks into the outdoors.