Diversifying the outdoors: resources for white allyship

My city was on fire and that wasn’t even why I was angry. It had been building for a long time. Ahmaud Arbery. Breonna Taylor. And now George Floyd had been murdered by the police in the street of the city I love. On that same day in New York City’s Central Park, Black birder Christian Cooper was falsely accused of assault for asking a white woman to leash her dog. They were just the most recent names added to a long list of Black Americans killed or harmed for doing everyday things I take for granted.

As I sat with my anger, obsessively reading the news and racists comments online as the uprising unfolded around the world, I felt an urge to venture out into nature to find peace and clarity. That, my friends, is white privilege in action.

What a privilege it is to find safety and comfort in nature, not to mention in my daily life. And what a privilege to have the option of retreating to take care of myself amidst anti-racism protests and incredible grief in our Black communities.

All voices, bodies, races and identities deserve to feel safe and welcome in nature and the outdoors community. Right now, that’s not the case.

This Big Wild World exists because I believe that life is better with adventure. But, that means for everyone. And, we white adventurers are taking up way too much space in the outdoors. 

We’ve got work to do. 

I don’t mean like angry tweet a few things, sign a couple petitions, skim some articles and we’re done. I mean work. I’m in this work for the long haul and I hope you’ll join me.

This is a weekly learning plan that will unfold gradually with resources for those of us seeking to be better white allies to outdoorsy people of color and advocate for diverse representation in the outdoors community.

What to expect:

• Black, Indigenous, and other people of color’s (BIPOC) voices are centered in the selected resources. Any resources created by white people were selected because they specifically speak to white privilege or the historic role white people have played in systemic racism in the USA. 
• Some resources are intended to be general learning while others are specific to the outdoors community. Both are necessary.
• Each week, there will be a focused learning topic or type of resource as well as reflection questions and homework. Join on IG Stories on Thursdays for conversation and accountability.
• I have a lot to learn and will make mistakes when it comes to conversations on race and racism. I am committed to humbly listening and learning to be better when this happens.

If you have a resource you would recommend adding to this list, let me know! If you have any concerns with the resources listed, please reach out to me. I will be updating the list regularly.

*Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means that if you purchase through a link, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps keep This Big Wild World up and running!

The first three articles below specifically address racism and allyship in the outdoors community. The final two are education resources focused on understanding white privilege and allyship in general.

This week, choose one or more articles below to read and reflect on.

The Melanin Base Camp Guide to Outdoor Allyship by Danielle Williams

Want to Speak Up Against Racism in the Outdoors? Here’s How by David Robles

Camping While Black: An Honest Conversation on Race in the Outdoors by Lauren Gay

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack by Peggy McIntosh

How to Be a Good White Ally, According to Activists by Emily Stewart

3 Plus Ways to be a Better Ally to Diverse Peoples in the Outdoors by Lorena Bally on Diversity Outdoors

Week 1: Reflection Questions

• What most resonated with you from your reading?
• Think about your last experience in the outdoors. In what ways did you benefit in that experience from your white privilege?
• How have you responded in the past when someone has tried to talk to you about race? If others haven’t tried to talk to you about race, why do you think that is?
• In what ways can you signal boost or raise up the voices of outdoorsy BIPOC?
• What are some ways in which you can be a better white ally?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

Week 2: Pre-Work

Choose one of the titles below to read (or listen to the audio version). The links provided are to the e-book version on Amazon, however I encourage you to purchase from a local BIPOC owned bookstore or borrow from your public library if possible.

This list is meant to offer many different angles to view and learn about race and racism in the USA. My intention is to offer a longer read for anyone, no matter where you are in your journey and what your interests are so that you can find something that speaks to you.

So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo | Perfect for: an introduction to race, racism, and intersectionality.

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors by Carolyn Finney | Perfect for: an understanding of systemic and cultural barriers preventing diversity in the outdoors community.

Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy | Perfect for: considering our nation’s history with race and how its stories are told.

NEW! White Rage by Carol Anderson | Perfect for: learning about the history of beliefs around race and the evolution of racism in the US in the words of a Black author.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander | Perfect for: understanding the systemic racism designed into our criminal justice system.

How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi | Perfect for: identifying all types of racism and the difference between not being racist and being antiracist.

NEW! Boarding School Seasons by Brenda J. Child | Perfect for: learning about the cultural and emotional impact of the American Indian boarding schools, from the perspective of a Red Lake Ojibwe and descendant of boarding school residents.

NEW! Stringing Rosaries: The History, the Unforgivable, and the Healing of Northern Plains American Indian Boarding School Survivors by Denise K. Lajimodiere | Perfect for: anyone wanting to read a collection of stories from Indigenous people who are survivors of the American Indian boarding schools. 

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald | Perfect for: anyone trying to identify and accept their own implicit biases and the impacts of their biases. Relies on many cases studies and the use of the Implicit Association Test to measure bias.

White fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo | Perfect for: White people who are uncomfortable talking about race including what “new racism” means, why being racist doesn’t mean you’re a bad person, and what white fragility looks like in action in the words of a White author.

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein | Perfect for: understanding the role that federal, state and local government has played in creating and sustaining systems of racism in the USA in the words of a White author.

Week 2: Reflection Questions

• What most resonated with you from your reading?
• What did you discover about systemic racism in the US?
• Based on what you know right now, what does being antiracist mean to you?
• In what ways do you recognize white fragility in your own behavior?
• What did you learn about racism in the US that you weren’t taught in school but wish you were?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

Week 3: Pre-Work

Choose one or more of the audio resources below to listen to. These range in duration from 30 minutes to over an hour per episode. After listening, use the Week 3 reflection questions to capture what you learned and translate that into action.

This list of audio resources includes podcast, meditations, and thought-provoking discussions related to race and racism. Some are links to entire series or podcasts and others highlight specific episodes that I have found particularly valuable. 

Camping While Black from Outdoorsy Diva Podcast | Perfect for: Learning from personal experiences about camping while Black.

21-Day Walking Meditation Black History Bootcamp from Girl Trek | Perfect for: Learning about the incredible women in Black history in the US. Sign up for their daily email which includes a recording of a 30-minute walking meditation, a Spotify playlist and other resources all inspired by the woman featured that day. This has become a highlight of my daily walks!

Black Lives Matter Meditation from Dr. Candice Nicole | Perfect for: A loving-kindness meditation to support centering your emotions as you work to be a better ally (click the link and scroll down for an ally meditation).

1619 Podcast from New York Times | Perfect for: Reflecting on and learning about the history of slavery in the US, which began 400 years ago in 1619.

Seeing White Podcast from Scene On Radio | Perfect for: Allies wanting to explore whiteness and “white” as a race.

All My Relations Podcast | Perfect for: Allies wanting to learn about Native peoples and communities and how they are represented in mainstream media.

Code Switch Podcast from NPR | Perfect for: Conversations about race and how it impacts every aspect of our lives and society.

Pod Save the People Podcast from Crooked Media | Perfect for: Exploring topics related to activism, social justice, culture and politics with a specific emphasis on untold stories of people of color.

Freddie Gray Miniseries of the Undisclosed Podcast | Perfect for: Going deep into a case study about the racial disparities in the criminal justice system and policing. Freddie Gray was killed by the police in Baltimore in 2015.

Week 3: Reflection Questions

• What most resonated with you from your reading?
• Think about a time when you’ve interacted with a Black, Indigenous or other person of color in the outdoors. How did you treat them? In what ways was it similar and different to how you interact with white people outdoors?
• What does it mean to you to name white as a race?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

This list of videos and movies represent a combination of fiction and non-fiction. This list could easily be pages long. It is no way exhaustive. I’ve included those I’ve found most impactful for my growth and those most often recommended by those within the BIPOC community. 

Choose at least one to watch and reflect on this week. 

13th on Netflix | Perfect for: A deep-dive into how the 13th amendment to the US Constitution has been used to systematically disadvantage Black people throughout the country’s history, particularly through the criminal justice system.

TIME: The Kalief Brouder Story on Netflix | Perfect for: Learning about the US criminal justice system through a specific young man’s story where he was held in prison for 3 years, 2 of those being in solitary confinement, without ever being convicted of a crime.

Malcolm X (1992) on Netflix, Amazon Prime | Perfect for: Understanding the life, evolution of and influence of the legendary Black Nationalist leader. 

LA 92 on Netflix, Youtube | Perfect for: Examining the aftermath of the beating of Rodney King in Los Angeles by the LAPD, the subsequent protests, and the ultimate acquittal of the officers involved. 

The Hate You Give on Amazon Prime, Cinemax, Hulu | Perfect for: Thought-provoking discussion on racism and policing in the US. 

Just Mercy on several streaming services | Perfect for: Gaining an appreciation for how racism exists and perpetuates in small town America through the true story of a Black civil rights attorney who fought for those on Death Row who were wrongfully convicted by an unjust system.

Coming to Terms with Racism’s Inertia: Ancestral Accountability by Rachel Cargle (on TedX) | Perfect for: Thinking about modern ways in which racism is present in the US in a short [13 min] video.

Week 4: Reflection Questions

• What most impacted you from the video you watch?
• In what ways does racism show up in your daily life?
• Considering the video you watched, what barriers do you see that prevent BIPOC from feeling safe in and enjoying the outdoors?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

We reinforce or tear down systems of oppression with every dollar we spend.  This week is a shift from traditional learning into personal reflection. Where are you spending your money? Are you reinforcing systems of racism in your daily life without even realizing it?

So, grab some paper or open a new doc on your computer and let’s dig in.

General expenses:

1. Choose a time period that is fairly representative of your current spending habits – the last week or month, for instance. (Tip: Start small.)
2. Write down as many places/ brands as you can think of that you’ve spent money. If you need to and use a debit/ credit card often, check your bank statement. Where do you do your grocery shopping? General shopping? What restaurants do you go to? What coffee shops? What brands do you love? Where do you work out?
3. Choose 5-10 of those places/ brands, ideally the most frequent or largest expenses, and for each make note of which are BIPOC owned. Don’t know? Get out the old Google machine and find out. Of those that are not BIPOC owned, how many of them have ties to anti-Black or other hate groups?

Occasional expenses:

Reflect on some of these less frequent expenses. How many of these are BIPOC or BIPOC owned?

1. Doctors/ medical professionals?
2. Auto maintenance?
3. Home maintenance?
4. Child or adult caregivers?
5. Teachers (or those of your dependents)?
6. Memberships to professional organizations or social clubs?

Week 5: Reflection Questions

• What percent or how many of the 5-10 brands/ places you looked at were BIPOC owned?
• Did you discover any brands/ places that you support that have ties to anti-Black or other hate groups?
• What adjustments will you make to your spending habits to support anti-racism and diversifying the outdoors?
• What prevents you from changing your spending habits and how might those be rooted in privilege?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

To truly diversify the outdoors and make it a welcoming space for all, diverse voices, perspectives and bodies need to be represented at the tables and space where decisions are made. If the outdoors brands we know and love have this diverse representation, it will shine through in their marketing, social media, website, product sales pages and leadership structure.

This week, let’s dive deep on a few of our favorite outdoors brands to critically evaluate their representation of diverse voices and commitment to diversity.

Activity:

1. Make a list of your top 5 favorite outdoors brands that you follow on social media, purchase gear from, or donate to in some way. 
2. Choose 2 of those brands.
3. Evaluate the following for both of those brands:
   • In the last 6 months on their primary social media channels, what percentage of their posts showed BIPOC using their product? 
   • Take 10 minutes to browse their website. What percentage of the images and graphics on their site represent BIPOC?
   • Do they have a statement or commitment to diversity, equity, and/ or inclusion on their website?
   • Visit https://www.blacktravelalliance.com/ – has the brand or organization provided their data and statement?
   • If you receive a printed catalog or email marketing from this brand or company, what percentage of their images or messages have representation of BIPOC?
   • Visit the brand or organizations website or otherwise search for their org chart. In their leadership structure, what percentage of people are BIPOC? If you can’t find this, consider contacting them to ask for this info.

Week 6: Reflection Questions

• What did you discover about the representation of BIPOC in the two brands you selected to evaluate?
• What did it feel like to intentionally look at a brand you love with the lens of BIPOC representation?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

Systems of racism are either perpetuated or disrupted by those we elect into office, both at the local and federal level. This week we will learn more about what positions within our local government are elected vs. appointed and explore how those positions contribute to or breakdown systems of racism.

Tip: Pay special attention to local roles that directly impact systems of racism and oppression such as police chief, sheriff, district attorney, medical examiner, and the school and parks boards. Some of these roles will be elected, while others will be appointed. For instance, in Minneapolis where I live, the police chief is appointed by elected City Council members and the medical examiner is appointed by the elected County Board members.

Activity:

• First, register to vote. Seriously, if you haven’t yet and are eligible, stop reading and go do it right now. 
• Second, request a mail-in ballot if you cannot or prefer not to vote in person.
• Google ‘what positions are elected in <insert the name of your city, county, state, school district>’ or search on Ballotpedia.
• Choose 2-3 positions that interest you or that are up for election this year. 
  • For each position, find out more about what decisions that role has the power to make and what funds they influence or control.
  • For each position that is up for re-election, find out who the candidates are. Google their key issues, their history with racial justice and anti-racism efforts, and bills they have sponsored or supported. Look at their website and social media to see if there is BIPOC representation and vocal support for racial equity.
• BONUS: If you’ve gone down a rabbit hole and want to know more, take a look at the budget for the local government that you pay taxes to. Where are your dollars being spent? How are those dollars benefiting or burdening communities of color?

Week 7: Reflection Questions

• What did you learn about your locally elected government positions?
• In what ways do the positions you looked into potentially perpetuate or disrupt systems of racism?
• How many of your locally elected government officials (or candidates) are BIPOC? How does that compare to the population of people they represent?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week? (This one’s easy – vote!!!)

As we see confederate statues toppling over and names being removed from buildings across the US, it’s a moment to reflect on the names of our favorite hiking trails, parks, climbing routes and outdoor spaces. Honoring those who represent systems of oppression and racism in such a way not only perpetuates these systems but erases the voice and value of those that originally lived on and protected the land.

Activity:

• Pick one of your favorite trails, parks, climbing routes, lakes or other outdoor spaces. 
• Research how that public land was created and by who. 
• Find out who originally occupied that land and what rights they still have to occupy or use that land today.
• Read these posts from Indigenous Women Hike, Melanin Base Camp, Hike Clerb and Latino Outdoors. Consider supporting them and their voices with a donation, links to donate are in their social media accounts and/ or websites.

Week 8: Reflection Questions

• What did you learn about the name of outdoor space you researched?
• In what ways are the voices of those who originally occupied that land honored or erased by the name?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

A common refrain in the outdoors community is ‘nature is for everyone.’ And, while that’s true, it’s not an actual lived experience right now for many BIPOC. A disproportionate number of social media accounts and publications in the outdoors space show almost exclusively white bodies and voices in the outdoors. That’s not because there aren’t BIPOC in the outdoors, though. 

This week let’s take an honest look at our own social media feeds to see how diverse our outdoorsy feeds are.

Activity:

• Choose your favorite social media platform. Scroll through for 2-3 minutes. Approximately what percentage of the images showed BIPOC represented in the outdoors?
• Now, go to 3 of your favorite outdoors accounts on that social media platform and scroll through the last 10 images or posts. Approximately what percentage of the images showed BIPOC represented in the outdoors?
• Discover BIPOC-centering outdoors accounts and follow them. Consider supporting them with a donation and sharing their content with credit.

Week 9: Reflection Questions

• Why do you personally feel it’s important to diversify your social media feeds?
• In what ways can you lift the voices of BIPOC content creators?
• How will you respectfully engage with BIPOC content creators on social media in a way that is inclusive and centering their voices not your own?
• What is one action you will take based on what you learned this week?

We’ve explored all sorts of topics together in the first 9 weeks. There is so much to learn, reflect on, unpack and act on. This is lifelong work.

This week is a chance to take a breath, think about where you need to do more work, and make a plan. 

Activity:

• Reflect on the first 9 week’s topics.
• Write down the topics we didn’t explore related to diversifying the outdoors that you are curious to learn more about (such as history, language, and activism as examples). 
• Write down the topics we did explore that you want to dive deeper on.
• Now, identify 3-5 specific actions you will take to be a better outdoors ally. These can include actions you committed to in previous weeks but haven’t finished. 

Week 10: Reflection Question

• How will you hold yourself accountable to the 3-5 actions you identified?

Hey, we made it to Week 10! That must mean we’ve earned an outdoors ally badge or something, right? Um, no.

What’s next? Go right on back to Week 1 and do it again. Go deeper, keep learning and growing. I’ll be here learning along with you!

Join the conversation each Thursday on Instagram Stories.