People of Color

[illabelle]

Is she white?
Or is she a person of color?
Yes to both.
church xmas 2014 041.jpg

[jimmyjam]

So I have been thinking about this quite a bit. In the hiking clubs I have been in, I have only seen two other people of color. It seems that hiking is dominated by white folks. Anyone else out there in the Class of 2015 a person of color?

Don't let it keep you from hiking. Nobody on the trail cares what race you are or what country you are from. We're all the same on the trail.

[Rocket Jones]

Never thought about it. Way back, half my Boy Scout troop was ethnic, so it wasn't anything special. Nowadays, there are always a good number of ethnic families around when we go camping. Personally, I don't see "black man" or "Asian lady" or "young kid" when I hike, I see another "hiker".

[Sandy of PA]

I am a member of the "human race". We are all out of Africa if you follow the DNA trail backwards, the sooner we drop all the labels the better it will be for all.

[soumodeler]

I am a member of the "human race". We are all out of Africa if you follow the DNA trail backwards, the sooner we drop all the labels the better it will be for all.

Couldn't agree more.

Less focus on the labels and more on the hiking and the great outdoors!

[canoe]

I am a member of the "human race". We are all out of Africa if you follow the DNA trail backwards, the sooner we drop all the labels the better it will be for all.

Yep Not understanding why race is always an issue. Only those looking for an issue will find one

[Feral Bill]

My use of mongoloid was deliberate. It's a legitimate term as are Caucasoid and Negroid.

All are legitimate relics of early twentieth century racist pseudoscience. Mongoloid is also an antiquated term for people with Downs syndrome. Please do reconsider.

[Mags]

I suspect it is as much for socioeconomic reasons as much as anything. The average outdoors person for REI-type activities (as opposed to hunting, fishing for whatever reason [1]) tends to be not only white, but also college educated and/or at least middle class in terms of income.

Having both time and money to pursue backpacking, hiking, kayaking, etc. is a luxury for many people.

The "people of color" I knew into the outdoors were college educated and often came from families that were we also college educated as well. Some were like me and fell in love with the outdoors in their adult life as much by chance as anything.

There are other reasons I am sure. But I suspect as more people, whatever the color, move up the economic ladder, the more you'll see them pursuing outdoor pursuits but also other pursuits that are often a benefit of, again, having both time and money. (Cultural trips? Theater? Etc. Etc). It is far from the only reason, but I think it is a fair one as any.



[1] Hunting and fishing is often for sustenance in rural areas. At least where I grew up the more congested suburbs of the northeast, hunting was definitely a luxury as to get to *good* hunting required time off from work and a long drive to northern New England or upstate New York.

[canoe]

I suspect it is as much for socioeconomic reasons as much as anything. The average outdoors person for REI-type activities (as opposed to hunting, fishing for whatever reason [1]) tends to be not only white, but also college educated and/or at least middle class in terms of income.

Having both time and money to pursue backpacking, hiking, kayaking, etc. is a luxury for many people.

The "people of color" I knew into the outdoors were college educated and often came from families that were we also college educated as well. Some were like me and fell in love with the outdoors in their adult life as much by chance as anything.

There are other reasons I am sure. But I suspect as more people, whatever the color, move up the economic ladder, the more you'll see them pursuing outdoor pursuits but also other pursuits that are often a benefit of, again, having both time and money. (Cultural trips? Theater? Etc. Etc). It is far from the only reason, but I think it is a fair one as any.



[1] Hunting and fishing is often for sustenance in rural areas. At least where I grew up the more congested suburbs of the northeast, hunting was definitely a luxury as to get to *good* hunting required time off from work and a long drive to northern New England or upstate New York.

Well growing up a city dweller from a large family with minimal family income. The only thing my family could afford was to take a trip to the mountains hike the traisl and camp. Acually there are a lot or lower income people hiking today... just listen to the very many who can't afford the gear or save enough money for the thru. not sure if your logic is logical. just my observation.

[Praha4]

So I've been also thinking about this quite a bit. On all the AT hiking trips I've been on, it seems the trail is also dominated by white blazes. Occasionally I see blue blazes, and some thru hikers I've run into speak in hushed tones about some mysterious "yellow" blazes. I'm still searching for those yellow blazes, somebody told me if I try hitchhiking more I can find them.

[Mags]

not sure if your logic is logical. just my observation.

http://www.nps.gov/appa/parkmgmt/upl...n_Report-2.pdf

Users (Non-Thru Hikers) Thru Hikers
Number Percent Number Percent
8th grade or less 1 0.1 0 0.0
Some high school 29 2.0 2 0.7
high school graduate or GED 111 7.6 27 9.3
Business school, trade school, some college 280 19.2 61 21.0
College graduate 448 30.7 135 46.4
Some graduate school 160 11.0 28 9.6
Masters, doctoral, or professional degree 429 29.4 38 13.1


Some college, of course, counts young people people in college which is esp relevant with the thru-hiker statistic.

Even not counting that stat, that means ~70% have college degrees for both thru-hikers and non-thru hikers. So ~7 out of 10 users of the Appalachian Trail are college graduates. If we loop in "some college" and assume some of those are active students, the number is higher.

Now, dealing with income issue, according to this 2013 study, "40 percent of outdoor participants are from\ households with incomes of $75,000 or more."

http://www.outdoorfoundation.org/pdf...pation2013.pdf

What what is the percentage of of households with 54k or more per year? (Current MEDIAN household income in the US)? Bet it would be high. 75k or more a year is "just" 40% of the user base. Or nearly half.

As interesting statistical "hmm" point, 70% of outdoor participants are white. Same as the college graduate
level....

just listen to the very many who can't afford the gear or save enough money for the thru. .

If you look the age of these posters, they are typically in their 20s and have just finished or about to finish college. A lot different than say two 40-somethings with two children.

[rocketsocks]

Don't let it keep you from hiking. Nobody on the trail cares what race you are or what country you are from. We're all the same on the trail.

this.........all day long.

[ATAdam]

Useless topic for white people to feel good about contributing to.
Expand your world, migrate your comfort zone, maybe you will meet other people you normally would not.

[quasarr]

In southern California I have seen a lot of Asians and Latinos out camping. Thru-hikers do seem to be almost exclusively white though. It's too bad, because the American frontier actually has a diverse history. (despite Hollywood's depiction)

I think the problem is that hiking is seen as a "white people's" activity. If more people of color start hiking, it will attract others. I can understand why someone would feel uncomfortable today as the lone person of color on the trail. (as you can see from Dogwood and Sonia's stories, discrimination definitely exists!) Most white people are used to being the majority and don't know how this feels.

[Old Hiker]

Is she white?
Or is she a person of color?
Yes to both.
church xmas 2014 041.jpg

None of the above. She is a beautiful HUMAN being.

[MuddyWaters]

There isnt a problem, some people want to make one.

Its not a race issue. Its a socio-economic issue.

Good luck solving that.

Hiking is a vacation, it takes time off work, and money.

The key to these things, is education.

You can see it in the #s Mags posted.

[illabelle]

None of the above. She is a beautiful HUMAN being.

Indeed she is!!
I must have really good genes.

[WingedMonkey]

Indeed she is!!
I must have really good genes.

I had to go back and re-read your first post. I was sure you said no one knew grand-daughter was a quarter back.

Sure looked like a little on the small side to play quarter back.

[Coffee]

Hiking is a vacation, it takes time off work, and money.
.

Hiking is actually the cheapest form of vacation that I know of even with expensive lightweight gear. The cost of a round trip flight to Europe can buy a decent lightweight kit. Less can buy somewhat heavier gear. It lasts for years with care. Thousands of miles can be covered for the cost of that gear and little more than food and supplies, which in my experience costs less on the trail than what I would otherwise consume at home. So logically, hiking should be a favorite pastime of the poor.

[illabelle]

i had to go back and re-read your first post. I was sure you said no one knew grand-daughter was a quarter back.

Sure looked like a little on the small side to play quarter back.

lol.....