Shifting the Legacy of Black Americans in Nature
The outdoors meant something entirely different to my father than it does to me. Growing up as part of a large, loving family on a farm in segregated Memphis, Tennessee, my father and his twin brother—the youngest of 10 siblings—experienced nature as a place of work, not leisure.
From a young age, they tended gardens, cared for animals, and helped their foreman uncle load hay bales onto trucks. For my father, the outdoors wasn't a retreat; it was a workplace marked by sweltering heat, humidity, poison ivy, and swarms of mosquitoes.
Family photo of my father (front row, 2nd from the right) as a young child with his parents and 9 siblings. [Family photo; not for reuse]
My urban and suburban upbringing sheltered me from those experiences but also kept me removed from nature overall. Camping, hiking, and fishing were alien concepts, mere images on a TV screen. Yellowstone was just Yogi Bear's home to me; I had no idea it was one of many national parks. The notion of spending time engaging in and with nature for pleasure simply didn't seem real to me.
Cultivating personal joy in nature, flannel shirt and all (Lake Tahoe, CA).
It wasn't until my 20s when I was invited on a group hiking trip that my perspective changed. On that trip I discovered the beauty and the challenge of outdoor recreation (I also invited along someone I had just started talking to, and who is now my husband of almost 20 years). On the one hand it was easier than I thought (we just went outside) and on the other it was significantly harder (uphill, then uphill some more). Yet as the crisp mountain air filled my lungs and the distant vistas gradually revealed themselves, it sparked in me a sense of awe and curiosity. Over the next couple of years, Justin and I started backpacking and camping regularly, and I fell in love with spending time immersed in nature and the connection, empowerment and restoration I felt in those spaces.
As I embraced this new world, I couldn't help but wonder why it had taken so long to discover. Reflecting on my father's relationship with the outdoors, I began to understand that our differing experiences were rooted in something deeper than personal preference. They were part of a larger story—one that echoed the complex history of Black Americans and our connection to the land.
Connections and Disruptions
The complex relationship between Black Americans and the land has its roots in part in the traumatic history of slavery. Forcibly brought to a foreign land, enslaved Africans developed an intimate, yet fraught, connection with the American landscape. Enslaved people worked intimately with the land, carrying over existing knowledge and developing new insights on agriculture, plant life, and natural cycles.
This connection to the land was fundamentally shaped by the brutality of slavery. A duality emerged, as the outdoors was simultaneously a place of forced labor and potential freedom. Forests and swamps became routes for escape and havens for their new communities. The land held the promise of liberation, even as it was the site of oppression.
Intimate knowledge coupled with the weight of oppression laid the foundation for the complex relationship many Black Americans would have with nature in the centuries to come. It's a legacy that encompasses both deep connection and understandable wariness.
A Legacy of Exclusion
Emancipation did not restore the newly freed slaves’ relationship to nature, in law or in practice. Instead, it marked the beginning of a new era of exclusion from public lands and outdoor recreation. “Separate but equal" segregation laws extended to public lands. National and state parks, like other public facilities, were subject to Jim Crow laws and often provided inferior or no accommodations for Black visitors. As with all other aspects of U.S. society, this legal framework of segregation laid the groundwork for generations of systemic exclusion from the outdoors, setting the stage for long-lasting discriminatory policies and cultural attitudes that would follow.
Even as legal barriers fell, cultural obstacles persisted. Outdoor recreation has often been marketed and perceived as a predominantly white activity, lacking representation of Black and Brown participants in media and advertising. On top of that, the history of racial violence in rural areas and forests - from lynchings to sundown towns - created a legacy of fear and discomfort associated with certain outdoor spaces for many Black Americans.
This complex history of exclusion, both overt and subtle, has continued the legacy of disconnection between many Black communities and nature. However, recognizing this history is the first step in addressing these inequities and working towards a more inclusive outdoor community. It is important not to ascribe to an entire people a lack of desire for or interest in the outdoors. Instead, let us think about ways that we can create a sense of belonging, comfort, and safety in the outdoors, and ways we can push the outdoor industry - from laws and policies, to information and resources, to products and gear - to do the same.
The Healing Power of Nature
Outdoorithm group trip, building community in the outdoors (Half Moon Bay, CA).
Understanding our collective history and making significant changes in policy and culture go beyond a desire to right a historic wrong. Part of the purpose behind the work is to facilitate access to the transformative benefits of nature for both individuals and communities. The outdoors provides a unique environment for healing, self-discovery, and personal growth. Numerous studies have shown that immersion in natural settings can have profound positive effects on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. This connection to nature is deeply rooted in our evolutionary history and plays a crucial role in our overall health. Indigenous communities have long known, taught, and cultivated this relationship, and Western thought is now catching up. For Black communities that have faced generational trauma and ongoing stress from systemic racism, the restorative power of nature can be particularly impactful, offering a space for peace, reflection, and empowerment.
Research consistently shows that time spent in nature can:
Reduce stress and anxiety
Lower blood pressure and heart rate
Boost mood and self-esteem
Improve cognitive function and creativity
Strengthen the immune system
Finding joy around a campfire with friends.
These benefits are particularly crucial for communities that have historically faced higher levels of stress and related health disparities. Studies have shown that this prolonged exposure to stress contributes to higher rates of hypertension, heart disease, and mental health challenges. Reconnecting with nature offers a powerful antidote, providing a space for healing, self-reflection, and community building away from our daily stressors. Time in nature helps us hit that reset button - as often as we want - and can become for us a place of rest, reconnection, and restoration.
Shifting the Narrative: Creating a New Outdoor Legacy
This history of exclusion and the healing power of nature underscore the importance of redefining the relationship between historically marginalized communities and the outdoors. This shift is not just about increasing representation; it's about fundamentally changing the narrative of who belongs in nature and how we interact with it. By creating a new outdoor legacy, we can address historical injustices, promote healing, and ensure that future generations see the natural world as a place of comfort, empowerment, and belonging.
The journey to create this new outdoor legacy is ongoing and will require sustained effort and commitment. However, the potential rewards are immense: a generation of Black and Brown youth who see the outdoors as a place of joy, strength, and unlimited possibility. By rewriting this narrative, we not only reclaim our connection to the land but also open up new pathways for healing, empowerment, and collective growth - for ourselves and for others. There is no need to perpetuate a scarcity mentality or to transition to a new form of gatekeeping. The outdoors belongs to all of us, and it's time our experiences and stories reflect that truth.
Rediscovering Nature
Changing the narrative for our own kids.
My experiences in nature have ignited in me a passion for the outdoors. It's partly self-focused - nature improves my well-being and shifts my perspective on parenting, work, and relationships. But this passion has also inspired me to help others experience similar transformations.
I've come to realize that my father, despite not always seeing nature as recreational, still deeply appreciates its beauty and peace. In the garden, he's always attuned: noticing the grass color, tree health, pruning needs, and subtle weather changes. His relationship with the land, shaped by his experiences, differs from mine, just as my children's will differ from ours. This raises the question: What experience do I - do WE - want to cultivate for the next generation?
We have the power to redefine our connection with the land. We can teach our children to view it holistically - not as something that owes us, but as something that provides. Perhaps 'recreation' is too simplistic a term. Gardens require tending, hikes challenge us, and setting up camp takes effort. But the transformation we experience makes it worthwhile. By embracing both the work and the wonder, we can forge a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the natural world.
Going Deeper: Next Steps For You
Outdoorithm group trip. Camping with others is a really great way to get outdoors, build community, and hit that ‘reset’ button.
Plan a camping trip this season, even if it's just in your backyard. Experience the joy of sleeping under the stars. Outdoorithm can help you make camping comfortable and enjoyable for your family!
Look for opportunities to amplify Black and Brown voices in outdoor media, leadership roles, and conservation efforts.
Consider forest bathing, the Japanese practice of engaging in an intentional walk in nature while paying close attention to all of your senses. The only goals are connection and appreciation for the land.
Follow Outdoorithm online for inspiration and tools to help you get outside.
Research camping spots in your area that you've never visited before. Exploring new places can reignite your passion for the outdoors.
Find ways to bring the outdoors to your local school - initiatives don’t have to be big. Start with caring for plants or a walk through a local park; consider planning a camping trip for your child/niece/nephew/cousin’s class.
Choose something that feels right to you - look for ways to listen, connect, and experience all that nature has to offer. Outdoorithm is here to help - don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions! You can always reach me at sally@outdoorithm.com.
Join our email list to get more resources and tips to help you and your family connect with nature.
Some of our blog posts include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase with those links Outdoorithm may receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting our work.