Top Quotes: “Melanin Base Camp: Real-Life Adventurers Building a More Inclusive Outdoors” — Danielle Williams
“People are quick to make assumptions about my ability, experience level, and technical knowledge, based solely on the color of my skin. When I visit new drop zones, I am routinely mistaken for a tandem customer despite the obvious signs: a gear bag and parachute on my back and my helmet in hand. It reinforces the fact that many people will never see me as a “real skydiver” because, in their minds, “Black people don’t skydive!” That’s a hard truth that bothered me less when I was a newcomer but can really get under my skin as an experienced jumper with hundreds of skydives and over a decade in the sport.
Drop zones are also places where sexist, homophobic, and racist language is often met with laughter, or averted glances from allies who are too afraid to speak up. The truth is our community shares the same “bro” culture as many other adventure sports.”
“During the nine-month trek, Tyler went through sixteen pairs of shoes and ten pairs of socks while hiking an average of thirty to thirty-five miles each day. On the western trails, his personal record was fifty-two miles in a single day — the equivalent of two back-to-back marathons.”
“In 2017, Ananth, alongside other outdoor communities, began working with Seattle Department of Transportation to improve transportation to the city’s many local trails. The end result was a new service called Trailhead Direct. It provides round trips from the city center to trailheads around Seattle and can be accessed using a city pass. It also runs every thirty minutes.
Transportation isn’t the only barrier to access for many People of Color. “In the Himalayas, we carried really heavy gear that was a lot cheaper than what I’ve come across here,” said Ananth. “The gear we have in the U.S. is lighter but way too expensive.” While he’s pushed for affordable transportation to Seattle-area trailheads, he’s also supportive of efforts across the United States to decrease barriers to entry by promoting affordable gear through lending libraries, secondhand gear markets, gear maintenance, and more.”
“Black Kids Adventures began in the middle of the pandemic. “Our primary goal is to create opportunities for families to get outside and to remove some of the fear that comes from doing these things alone,” said Zenovia. She has a lot of empathy for Black people who may be interested in the outdoors but are hesitant to try new things without the support of family, friends, or at least a familiar face. The nonprofit currently hosts two camp-outs a year in rural Alabama, with cabins, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, environmental education programs, and even a taste of farm life. The camp is completely free for attendees, thanks to Zenovias tireless fundraising efforts to cover the $200 cost per participant. “I wanted it to be free because it’s about exposure,” she explained. “A lot of times, people won’t put their money into things they don’t see value in. If I can get you there, you’ll see it.” Another part of her mission is to break down common fears and misconceptions about the outdoors in a safe, culturally affirming space where people who are “new to the outdoors” can learn together without fear of judgment. “I’ve had people who are terrified of bugs, who have no relationship with the outdoors, who have passed on their fear to their children, and I’ve seen them all flourish,” said Zenovia. She is helping Black families create outdoor memories as a community.”
“Even if a particular space is not intended for you, often there are still ways for you to help by donating money or gently used gear and volunteering time and expertise to build a website, edit a video, or write digital copy. You can also offer mentorship, introduce an editor or industry contact, or share articles online. Another way to get involved is to send a brief email offering a specific skill. This is actually a breath of fresh air for many outdoor affinity groups who receive a constant stream of emails demanding that they work for free.”
“Mountain biking, like many adventure sports, has a lot of hidden knowledge that doesn’t come in an owner’s manual. It’s passed from parent to child, friend to friend, mentor to mentee, or instructor to student. David was starting from scratch without the benefit of any of these options. It’s one reason why it can be so challenging to learn an adventure sport when you’re the only one who looks like you — oftentimes you’re judged for not having knowledge that you don’t even have access to as a Person of Color.
David also dealt with unwelcome glances and hostility as one of the few or only brown people on the trail at the time. “People who had started biking at such young age felt like they had ownership over the mountain biking space, just because they had been exposed it earlier,” David recalled. “It made me wonder why the weren’t as many mountain biking teams on the west side of the valley as there were up in the mountains where there’s money.””
“He’s not giving up, and even though he realizes that digging through 150-year-old outhouses won’t appeal to everyone, Evan wants to encourage Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color to give it a try. “It’s a predominantly white man’s hobby, and they’re all older,” said Evan.”
