BLACK PEOPLE DON’T CAMP By, Naomi Humphrey Research has shown us that there are immeasurable benefits to wilderness outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, etc.. These various activities reduce stress, promote physical fitness and thus increasing your propensity for a happier and healthier lifestyle. You learn new skills, have a chance to create a closer bond with family or friends if you choose to participate with them or you can gain an essential “you time” that will boost your confidence and mental health. While this all sounds fun and good, who is really out there receiving these benefits? When you search up hiking, camping, or really any outdoor activity on google images who do you see in
the first 50 pictures? 100 pictures? Not Black people…. that’s who. Well, unless you search up “Black family camping” and then for the first thirty images you get pictures of the same 3 Black families camping and after that is just a pile of miscellaneous camping pictures. Off the top of my head I can think of many stereotypes based around what Black people don’t do. While thinking of them really upset me, the most pressing issue that I have recently been invested in is that Black people don’t camp. According to the National Park Services, only 1 in 5 National Park attendees are non-white. Out of curiosity, I decided to simply look up the phrase “Black peo-
BLACK PEOPLE
