Tag Archives: Black Lives Matter

Outdoor Afro: Reconnecting African Americans to Nature

Rue Mapp is encouraging African Americans to reconnect with nature through her nonprofit Outdoor Afro and has already inspired thousands to enjoy the great outdoors like Oprah Winfrey.

By Heather Newgen

Rue Mapp has always loved the outdoors. She regularly hiked, fished and swam near her Northern California home growing up, but often noticed she was usually the only person of color on the trails.

“I was tired of being the only one on backpacking trips and camping trips when I joined with various clubs over the years. I wanted more people to experience the benefits of the outdoors and the joy of the outdoors,” Mapp told The Voluntourist via email.

So eleven years ago she started a website to document her outdoor adventures and to encourage the Black community to get outside.

“Outdoor Afro started off as a blog, a passion back in 2009 when I just decided that I wanted to experience more people who looked like me in the outdoors and talk about why I love the outdoors,” she said.

Outdoor Afro Oprah Winfrey and Rue Mapp photo courtesy of Outdoor Afro

Much to her surprise, Mapp learned there was actually more people of color experiencing the outdoors like she was, but realized a major issue.

“I didn’t see people who look like me, I started this blog, and something really miraculous happened. People from all over the country (at the dawn of social media) raised their digital hands and said, “Me, too! I love nature, too!” And I realized we had a visual representation problem. When you put all the people who thought they were the only ones together, we were actually quite numerous.”

RELATED: Being Black in Boise, Idaho

So Mapp has been on a mission to change the lack of representation. Over the course of a decade, Outdoor Afro has evolved into an organization that now connects African Americans to exciting outdoor adventures.

“Now we are a national not-for-profit network that has 90 volunteer leaders, people who we’ve trained, in 30 states who are leading and curating these fabulous outdoor experiences every single weekend around the country. The participation network is now about 40,000 people,” Mapp explained.

“Outdoor Afro’s work is changing the current representation of who gets out and who leads in the outdoors. There’s a different story that needs to be told, and Outdoor Afro’s telling it. We’ve already seen the result of that telling, creating a lasting change and shift. When we first started in 2009, there was no expected representation. No one was asking for it, and it wasn’t being created in a mainstream way that was visible through mainstream outlets. We’ve been very deliberate using social media to shift that visual representation of who we imagined gets outside,” she stated.  “We’ve worked closely with partners, in marketing, within the outdoor industry who have amplified our messages. Over time, there have been new norms. There’s just been a level set that happened where the expectation was for people who are depicted in the outdoors who look more like America, and, especially in our case, represent Black people as strong, beautiful, and free of all ages.”

For the last six years, Outdoor Afro has hosted the Glamp in Broadcast Gala in an effort to raise money in support of empowered Black connections in nature.

This year the fundraising event has shifted online and will take place September 12th at 5:00 p.m. PST/ 8:00 pm. EST.

The celebration will bring people together from around the world free of charge and online from the comfort of their homes. Building upon the success of five consecutive years of sold out in-person events, this glamorous evening will feature Outdoor Afro Founder and CEO Rue Mapp, keynote speaker Boots Riley (rapper, producer, film director and activist) interviewed by Davey D (hip hop journalist), and hosted by Yosemite Park Ranger and author Shelton Johnson, along with other inspiring leaders and diverse outdoor and cultural champions. The event supports Outdoor Afro’s programs to inspire Black connections and leadership in nature by helping people take better care of themselves, our communities and our planet.

To register click here.

5 Black activists you should know and follow

Being Black in America is tough, but if there’s one thing this year has shown us it’s powerful Black activists pushing boundaries and shaping the future. Meet the change-makers.

By Meagan Sargent @identify_la

With the modern-day lynching of George Floyd, the senseless killing of Breonna Taylor, the tragic killing of Ahmaud Arbery and (sadly many many more) the increase of police brutality on the Black community is on the rise. Protecting our Black brothers and sisters are of the utmost importance.

As a Black woman in America this struggle is all too real. I have experienced racism and prejudices daily and let me tell you, the weight of this struggle is hard to bear. That’s why the Black community needs the help of its allies now more than ever.

Being an activist is more than a “title.” It’s putting YOUR life on the line. It’s using YOUR voice and platform to speak up for social injustice. It’s holding people accountable and presenting blatant FACTS, which is exactly what the following Black activists are doing. Being an activist starts with YOU and until systemic change is brought forth, we will continue the fight for justice.

Here are five incredible Black activists to know.

Patrisse Cullors-Brignac:

Patrisse Cullors-Brignac is the co-founder and organizer of the Black Lives Matter organization. Founded in 2013, after George Zimmerman was acquitted for killing Trayvon Martin, Black Lives Matter has been a force since its inception. To date, Cullors-Brignac has put forth many hours to organize, educate, and fight for change by combating racial injustice while eradicating white supremacy. The global movement is vital in creating a channel for change in all cities. For additional information: www.blacklivesmatter.com

Brittany Packnett Cunningham:

Cunningham lives and breathes social justice. She was involved in the Ferguson Commission and President Obama’s Task Force on the 21st Century Policing amongst many others. Currently she is one of the leading voices of Campaign Zero, an online platform and organization that utilizes research-based policy solutions to end police brutality in America. With the dehumanizing death of George Floyd, it comes without saying that police brutality is the common denominator. Campaign Zero is a great resource for providing tangible updates for individuals wanting to get involved. For additional information: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

RELATED: I am a Black woman living in America and I hate being called African American

Rashad Robinson:

Robinson is the president of  Color of Change. Robinson leads campaigns on civic engagement, voting rights, criminal justice, and corporate and media accountability. The campaigns are powerful to end unfair practices while creating movements that demand change. Following Robinson on social media is a great start as he is also a spokesperson for Voting While Black and Tell Black Stories podcast. For additional information: https://colorofchange.org/

Tamika D. Mallory:

Co-founder of Until Freedom, Mallory has over two decades of social justice and reform under her belt. Until Freedom has a proven track record of focusing on immigrant rights, violence prevention, building grassroots support, media advocacy, and police reform. Mallory is a seasoned community organizer and activist that has served as a co-chair for the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. A natural born leader, she was even listed on Fortune’s 2017 list of World’s Greatest Leaders. For additional information: https://www.untilfreedom.com/

Charlene Carruthers:

Carruthers is the founding national director of BYP100 (Black Youth Project 100). She has worked alongside hundreds of young Black activists to build a national base of activist member-led organizations for Black individuals age 18-35. BYP100 is dedicated to creating justice and freedom for all Black people. Carruthers is a community organizer and writer with over 15 years of experience in racial justice, feminist and youth leadership development movement work. She is  empowering young leaders for a bright future, which is the true way for systemic racism to come to an end. For additional information: https://www.charlenecarruthers.com/

Additional Resources:

Myisha T. Hill:

Hill is a mental wellness and justice author, speaker, and coach. More importantly, she is the face behind Check Your Privilege and founder of Brown Sisters Speak. Hill is a great resource for asking the questions and delivering messages to empower you to “do better.” For additional information: https://myishat.com/

Shaun King:

King is one of the leaders behind one of the largest and most effective grassroots civil rights organizations in the country, Grassroots Law Project. The organization uses its legal expertise to transform policing and justices in America by organizing millions of people together to address the many egregious failures in the system. Providing facts and a clear plan of action is what makes GLP so successful. For additional information: www.grassrootslaw.org

Kimberlyn Foster:

Foster is the creator of For Harriet. The site is a multiplatform digital community for Black women that reaches over 2 million visitors a month. Her storytelling encourages listeners of all backgrounds to further educate themselves on the social and racially driven injustices in the world. I’d suggest taking a look at her YouTube channel as that is where many of her videos are uploaded. There isn’t a direct “flow” to her videos, as they are designated to start the conversation which I find empowering and unique. For additional information: https://www.youtube.com/user/ForHarrietdotcom/videos

Our system is corrupt and sadly the fight for equality is not new. It’s a constant battle that the Black community has fought for centuries. The main difference is now the Black community is relying on its allies to speak up for social injustice. Until we, as a people, unite and dismantle the system, change will not occur. Black Lives Matter is more than a hashtag. It’s a call for human decency. It’s a call to hold everyone accountable and use your voice to speak up for social injustices in the world.

Once #BlackLivesMatter is no longer trending, ask yourself will YOU still do the work? Will YOU continue to educate and hold individuals accountable? Because THIS is a long journey and WE are just getting started. WE simply can’t keep talking about change – BE about change!

About:

Meagan Sargent is founder and creator of lifestyle and entertainment site IdentifyLA. Founded in 2013 IdentifyLA strives to bridge the gap between underground and mainstream. In her free time, you can expect her to be gallivanting around the world with her passport in hand expanding her mind and discovering the world one country at a time.

I am a Black woman living in America and I hate being called African American

I hate being called African American. Why? Is it the African? Or the American? Or maybe the whole statement? It’s both and all of it that does not say who I am or who I feel to be.

By Dale Seabrook

How am I African? Yes, my ancestors can be traced back to Africa but according to the Out of Africa Theory, every modern human came from there too. Without this theory, other than the melanin in my skin, I have nothing that makes me African. I don’t know any African languages, traditions or customs. Can’t recall any African foods or even finding nice Kente for my wedding this upcoming August. Everything my ancestors had was looted away and replaced with Eurocentric ideas as the new norm. So this is all I knew. I knew I had Afro hair, but straight hair was everywhere I looked. From my textbooks to the TV that was all I saw. My mother raised me with what she knew and a perm and press back then, was supposedly the best view. She use to tell me “were mixed with Irish so were going to act that way, ok?.” There are zero pictures of me with my beautiful fro as a child because that would have been removing my mask and allowing someone to have target practice with me. It took me 24 years to remove this mask and fully appreciate me.

Present day I am left with searching for all that was taken. Learning how to love, appreciate and take care of my hair because a perm and press just does damage. Trying to learn Twi, how to make Jollof and not putting emphasis on age. This is why I cannot completely identify as American. Yes, I was born in America. But America made sure I was born with a target on my back. This target was placed on me, not because me or my family had done anything wrong, but simply because of the color of our skin. In order to survive, I was raised to wear a mask that hides the target on me that systematic racism and oppression has caused. I had to be the silent Black girl so I’m not viewed as the angry Black woman or had to dress up when in pain and going to the doctor so I’m not looked at as an
exaggerating junkie. Had to buy something small from stores because walking out empty handed caused accusations of theft. Had to wake up early and drive far for a good education. I even had to learn when and where it was ok for me to use my education. Abused for “talking like a white girl” and for “knowing too much for my own good.” I grew up both as Dale and Dj, confused about my identity and where I belonged.

America does not love me. In fact there are still laws that remind me of this. Ones that prevent access to IEP’s, suppress votes for people of color and some laws that still in the year 2020 allow discrimination against my Afro hair. When it comes to African and American put together as a term, my offense becomes higher than if someone was to just call me African or American. Why must I take on this term?

Considering all of the above and the fact that this once again was a conflicting statement with where I belong. This term to me is the oppressor making fun of oppressed. Mocking what I once had and what I barely have now. My fiance is European-American because he was born in Europe and is now a citizen in the USA. Yet on the United States Census he can simply check the box that says White. My best friend’s mother is from Korea and now American and she can simply check the box Asian. So why is it I have to have this non simple taunt of a term that does not in no way tell who I am?

I am Black. My skin is rich with melanin and my hair is thick and curly and rises to the sky from which I came. I am Black, my daughters are multiracial, they are beautifully brown and they know they are mixed with Black and White. I am Black, so much of my history was stolen from me that in adulthood I started with a clean, empty, black slate that I am slowly adding some of what I know and a lot that I never knew. Black is who I am, what I identify with and what I wish to be called.

After 27 years of oppression, I am finally saying it loud that I am Black and I am proud.

Dale Seabrook is an El Camino College graduate and a senior at Cal State University Dominguez Hills in the ITEP program. Founder and CEO of Seabrooks Services: Education for the whole child, not just their academics. Effervescent Millennial mom of two special needs daughters who enjoys travel and food.