7 Things My White Outdoorsy Friends Don’t Understand About Race
“Race is a little bit like gravity, experienced by all, understood by few.” – John A. Powell
Hello white outdoorsy friends!
Are you confused by race?
Who isn’t?
Why does it matter in the outdoors?
Here are some points that might give you some perspective on how difficult it can be for people of color to experience the outdoors and yet we do it anyways!
Leading a backpacking course on ancestral Ute land
1) The number of times we constantly question ourselves:
a. Am I safe?
b. Was that intentional?
c. What am I doing here?
d. Was that a microaggression?
e. Is it because I’m not white?
f. All of the above.
2) We feel guilty because we’re here and our friends or family aren’t
a. “I wish my _______ were here with me.”
b. Where are all the other Asian people?
c. Why aren’t there people who look like me here?
d. I wish more people who looked like me were here.
e. My mom would really like this!"
f. This is some BULLSHIT!
3) Inner struggles of outdoorsy People of Color
a. I can’t truly express myself around white people, they wouldn’t understand.
b. Am I the token _________?
c. Am I their only POC friend?
4) Accessibility
a. Should I spend time in the backcountry or focus on paying off student loans?
b. Should I buy expensive new climbing gear or send money home to my family?
c. Should I go on this trip with my friends or send money back home to my grandparents?
d. Will I feel safe and accepted?
5) Discomfort/Annoyance
a. We feel hyper vigilant or the need to prove we belong when we are “the only one.”
b. That look/tone we get from others when race becomes a topic of conversation.
c. I AM NOT the representative of my entire race, culture, ethnicity.
d. ”Not to be racist but…” questions are always racist.
e. If I make a mistake, will it just be a mistake or will it suddenly become a sweeping judgment of anyone who looks like me.
6) More than likely we don’t care about your opinions/thoughts on race and racism
a. It’s very likely that what you say will make us feel worse.
b. If you haven’t experienced it, please don’t even bother. White privilege doesn’t make you the subject matter expert on racism.
c. Instead have conversations about race with your white friends and family.
d. Sometimes we come out here to avoid talking about this.
e. Sometimes we feel sad or distressed. JUST LISTEN. Don’t give your “expert opinion” on race in America.
7) Being “the only one” or one of few in a particular sport or in the outdoor industry means dealing with:
a. Feelings of un-belonging.
b. Unfamiliarity or uncertainty due to the lack of representation.
c. Feeling invisible and hyper-visible at the same time.
Deep inhale.
Yes, that was a lot and that’s fine if you don’t agree.
But before I leave you lingering with your thoughts, here’s an excellent video created by a BIPOC crew that captures the essence of what we feel:
Chosen Confluence: