• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
    • Become a print subscriber
    • Sign up for e-Newsletter
    • e-Editions
Saturday, September 23, 2023
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
  • News & Features
    • National
    • Local
    • Special Editions
      • MLK Legacy
      • Black History Month
      • The MSR Celebrates Women’s History Month
  • All Sections
    • Opinion
      • Mellaneous by Mel Reeves
      • Word on the Street
      • Reaching Out From Within
    • Health + Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • Minnesota Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Sports
      • Timberwolves/NBA
      • Lynx/WNBA
        • 20 in 20
      • Twins/MLB
      • MN Wild/NHL
      • Vikings/NFL
    • Business
      • Small Business Month Celebration
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
    • Arts + Culture
    • Photo Galleries
      • Photo of the Week
    • MSR Forefront Digital Roundtable Series
      • MSR Forefront Highlights
    • Go Green
    • Education
    • Bulletin
    • Jobs & Notices
      • Legals
      • Announcements
  • Events
    • Submit an event!
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • e-Editions
No Result
View All Result
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
No Result
View All Result

African Americans discuss a lack of diversity in nature

by Charles Hallman
July 21, 2016
5
SHARES
100
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on LinkedIn
James King, Jr.
Charles Hallman/MSR News

Last of a three-part series

Educators and others who work in areas that “advance the children and nature movement” talked about the importance of understanding equity and inclusion in nature, to a full room of attendees at the Children and Nature Network Conference that occurred during May of this year in St. Paul.

It was a very diverse audience, which was unexpected, accorind to James King, Jr. who was among several facilitators of “Getting Real About Diversity in the Outdoors.” On the conference’s second full day at St. Paul’s RiverCentre, organizers used a “fishbowl” approach, allowing at least four people to sit in a circle in the middle of the room, say their peace and go back to their original seat. No time limit was placed, but a general rule of being respectful of time did exist, which was mostly adhered to. The MSR was the only media present at the hour-long session:

Nature was her “sanctuary” while growing up in inner-city Cleveland, said Nicole Jackson, a Black environmental educator from Cleveland. She shared how she “learned about the outdoors by watching television,” visiting zoos and seeking more knowledge at the library. Her family didn’t understand why she wanted to learn about the outdoors, and saw her as being “weird,” she disclosed.

“Nature was my outlet, and connecting with the world in a different way,” said Johnson. “It helped me get through a lot of…things and how people viewed me. With my family it was very difficult to be that person to connect with them and tell them about all the experiences I had, and get them to understand it.”

Nicole Jackson
Nicole Jackson Charles Hallman/MSR News

Also, being a Black female in predominately White nature groups “was a struggle. ‘You like the outdoors, but you’re Black?’” she often heard from individuals in these groups. “I reached out to mentors, but every mentor was White.”

Active in coordinating environmental stewardship projects throughout the United States for over eight years, King, Jr., now living in Atlanta, said he looks at his involvement with nature differently. Blacks in slavery times “were engaged with nature and with the land,” he explained. “Harriet Tubman was engaged…as a navigator. When I look at myself, I am a reflection of my grandparents. They taught me about the environment. I have family members to say they are willing to give it a try.”

Debra Williams of Chicago regularly connects faith and nature, but added that there are challenges, especially with some of the people she works with who are dealing with urban concerns, such as unemployment and homelessness. Conversations about equity and inclusion “requires real introspections…at every level,” she said.

Debra Williams
Debra Williams Charles Hallman/MSR News

Diversity in nature work is not just bringing in one person of color, noted Grace Anderson, who works in North Dakota. She relayed the time of the ‘shocked’ reactions she received when she first arrived there to work because they weren’t expecting a Black female.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

“I believe in nature access for all kids. But we just talk about it” at such conferences like the St. Paul event, said Sheree Cooks, a Black woman and parent engagement coordinator from Tacoma, Washington. She said afterwards, “We’re all here for the same reason, but I really came with what can I do now.”

“It’s very draining,” said a Black woman from St. Louis who complained that she’s afraid that she might be hired as a token at the organization where she is currently an intern. “I have a lot to offer” besides being “a token minority,” she pointed out.

The young woman told the MSR that she can oftentimes count the low number of Blacks in the room or at a conference. For this session she said, “I was overwhelmed by the number of people who came.”

 

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Support Black local news

Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.

Donate Now!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

MSR Top Five | Drake, New Edition, Diana Ross, Brian McKnight & more

Next Post

Vikings have spectacular new home

Charles Hallman

Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

You Might Also Like

Hot fun in the Twin Cities — summer activities for kids
Go Green

Equity in nature includes greening urban areas

Next Post
Vikings have spectacular new home

Vikings have spectacular new home

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
ADVERTISEMENT

Upcoming Events

Sep 12
September 12 @ 6:30 pm-December 18 @ 9:30 pm Recurring

Vic Volare Presents MUSIC FOR MARTINIS ft: Vic’s Fabulous Nightclub Academy

Sep 22
September 22 @ 5:00 pm-September 23 @ 8:30 pm

9th Annual Lantern Lighting Celebration at Lakewood Cemetery

Sep 23
10:00 am-1:00 pm

Expanding Diversity Career Fair

Sep 23
7:30 pm-9:00 pm Recurring

Michhil Amra | We Are The Procession

View Calendar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Read our latest e-Edition!

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Subscribe

  • Home/Office Delivery
  • Weekly e-newsletter
  • e-Editions

Support

  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • MSR Newsstand Locations

Connect

  • About
    • MSR Staff
  • Contact
  • Send a news tip
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

No Result
View All Result
  • News & Features
    • Local
    • National
  • All Sections
    • Arts & Culture
    • Health & Wellness
      • Women’s Wellness
      • Parenting Today
      • MN Cancer Alliance Breast Cancer Gaps Project
    • Business
      • Black Business Spotlight
      • Finances FYI
      • Small Business Month Celebration
    • Opinion
    • Sports
  • Events
  • Obits
  • Sister Spokesman
  • Donate
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: