Posts tagged Being the only one

How I Learned to Embrace Outdoorsy Stuff White People Like

This is the story of how I learned to stop worrying and embrace outdoorsy ‘stuff white people like’. You’d be surprised what got me there. So let’s go.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsJanuary 10, 2024Being the only one, SWPL, Skydiving, Black Women, Black girl math, Ambivalence

Identity Politics: Race & Ethnicity in the Outdoors

Most of us agree that language matters, names matter. Agreeing on which ones best represent our communities is a different story; especially when the only constant seems to be change.

Vanessa ChavarriagaVanessa ChavarriagaDecember 5, 2021Race, Identity, Outdoors, HHM, Being the only oneComment

3 Reasons Why It's Hard to Be “The Only One” in Outdoor Sports

I love supporting those who are doing the hard work of integrating outdoor spaces that have long been predominantly white by design, however, it’s time we acknowledge that being “the only one” can be a challenging and isolating experience. Here are three reasons why:

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsNovember 27, 2021racism, misogyny, Black Woman, Being the only one, EditorialComment

7 Reasons Why Black Women Shouldn't Try Outdoor Adventure Sports

We so often focus on reasons why Black people should try outdoor adventure sports. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t, or why you should at least be careful about who you try them with.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsSeptember 6, 2021Racism, Black Woman, Outdoor Community, Hiking, Listicle, Being the only one, Friendship, CommunityComment

Ivan - a BIPOC Outdoor Mental Health Story

“People like to say, ‘ponte las pilas’, or just make it work. But it’s not just about survival anymore, it’s also about making sure we’re taking care of our health.”

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsAugust 14, 2021mental health, depression, indigenous, latinx, hhm, being the only one, Being the only oneComment

5 Reasons Why It's Hard to Make Friends With Other People of Color in the Outdoors

For those of us who grew up as the ‘token’ Black, Indigenous or Person of Color (BIPOC), sometimes it’s hard to admit that being ‘the only one’ is our comfort zone—we’ve never really known anything else. Let’s discuss!

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsMay 2, 2021Racism, Colorism, Being the only one, Internalized racism, Listicle, Guide, Editorial, Greatest Hits, FriendshipComment

Oreo: Growing Up Black in Post-Racial America

Despite being raised to be a well-adjusted, confident, Black kid, I wanted to be White.

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsAugust 30, 2020Racism, Colorism, Post-Racial, 90s, Respectability Politics, Family, Growing Up, Editorial, Being the only oneComment

A Curly Haired Adventurer’s Guide to the Outdoors

Sometimes styling and celebrating your natural curly hair can be a challenge when spending time in nature—especially when you’re the only one who looks like you. Climbing and hiking weekends rarely include time for deep conditioning, and the wind and rain may not go easy on your twist out. So, after years of struggling, learning and experimenting, I’m excited to share with you this curly-haired adventurer’s guide to the outdoors (and protective styles!).

Nadia MercadoNadia MercadoJune 9, 2019Latinx, Black women, Hiking, Backpacking, Curly Hair, Black Women Climbers, Skydiving, Natural hair, Guide, Hiking Guide, HHM, Being the only one Comments

Growing up Asian in the American South

Once when I was alone, crossing the road, on the way to a Carolina football game, a drunk, white, frat-boy hanging half-way out of his friend’s Chevy pickup truck yelled at me, “Hey! Love me long time!”

Wai Yi NgWai Yi NgApril 4, 2019Colorism, Asian, Climbing, Asian American, Family, Race, Racism, African American, Growing Up, Being the only one, FriendshipComment

I Said I Wasn't Outdoorsy...But I Lied

Someone very boldly asked me “What is your story? What got you outdoors?” Having been asked that question before, I automatically launched into the short synopsis of my brief outdoor career… I continued on with this neatly packaged story of how I fell in love with the Outdoors in my mid twenties. For so long I absolutely believed this narrative to be true, but looking back I now realize that...I lied.

Growing Up Black and Outdoorsy

He credits his Black parents and grandparents who “set the tone for us as advocates of outdoor exploration, stewardship, and "atypical" activities such as skiing, ice hockey and hang gliding.”

Danielle WilliamsDanielle WilliamsAugust 28, 2018african american, climbing, skiing, family, stem, race, being the only one, Being the only oneComment

Skydiving as a Woman of Color

Team Blackstar gave me the freedom to stop pretending I don't notice when I'm the only person of color at my drop-zone. Yes we see color. And we realize the lack of diversity isn't a neutral thing.

MELANIN BASE CAMP

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