Black Man Hiking

[Pickleodeon]

I saw a handful of black hikers out this year.


Also, I heard there was a black thruhiker in '06. His trail name was Token. Like the kid on SouthPark. I think he named himself, the hiker that is.

[Disney]

Token. That's damn funny. I met a hiker at Trail Days 2005 that told me his name was "The Black Guy." At least I think I did. There was alot of moonshine that year and it's kind of vague.

[kanga]

Token. That's damn funny. I met a hiker at Trail Days 2005 that told me his name was "The Black Guy." At least I think I did. There was alot of moonshine that year and it's kind of vague.

yeah, that happens.

[The Weasel]

If this wonderfully funny video is viewed by you folks as sort of a "gosh, everyone is so nice to the very unique Nee-gro who is walking these trails, which no Nee-gro ever walks because they are poor and economically disadvantaged and not middle class and like tennis and golf and wow they sure dance good!" type of thing, why, I wonder, do Blacks think it's so funny?

Two reasons, from a few of my friends who think it's hilarious (as do I, but then I grew up in Detroit, which gives me a different perspective, perhaps):

1) It is so incredibly patronizing by Blair Underwood to make a short film about how whites are so patronizing to "good" Black men; and

2) It is so hilarious that whites don't get the joke that Blacks are laughing at them.

Pretty much every stereotype that Blacks resent is found in 4 minutes, and Underwood does a droll job of mocking both the stereotypes as well as the people who don't "get" them. You disagree? Well, this video is all over the Web, and not at hiking sites; most of the sites - lots of which think it a great send-up of unconscious racism - wouldn't know if a few, lots, or no Blacks ever hiked, and don't care either way.

Only thing missing was a drop-in from Robert Downey. Oh wait. That was about hiking, too.

Laugh, white folks. The joke is on us this time.

TW

[bigmac_in]

If this wonderfully funny video is viewed by you folks as sort of a "gosh, everyone is so nice to the very unique Nee-gro who is walking these trails, which no Nee-gro ever walks because they are poor and economically disadvantaged and not middle class and like tennis and golf and wow they sure dance good!" type of thing, why, I wonder, do Blacks think it's so funny?

Two reasons, from a few of my friends who think it's hilarious (as do I, but then I grew up in Detroit, which gives me a different perspective, perhaps):

1) It is so incredibly patronizing by Blair Underwood to make a short film about how whites are so patronizing to "good" Black men; and

2) It is so hilarious that whites don't get the joke that Blacks are laughing at them.

Pretty much every stereotype that Blacks resent is found in 4 minutes, and Underwood does a droll job of mocking both the stereotypes as well as the people who don't "get" them. You disagree? Well, this video is all over the Web, and not at hiking sites; most of the sites - lots of which think it a great send-up of unconscious racism - wouldn't know if a few, lots, or no Blacks ever hiked, and don't care either way.

Only thing missing was a drop-in from Robert Downey. Oh wait. That was about hiking, too.

Laugh, white folks. The joke is on us this time.

TW

Well, DUH - that's one reason it's so funny. You think you are the only one that gets it? Sheesh.

[kanga]

You think you are the only one that gets it? Sheesh.

yes, he does.

[Alligator]

If you feel the uncontrollable urge to discuss the political aspects of this humor piece try politics.com or any of the other hundreds of political sites out there.

[white_russian]

I saw a handful of black hikers out this year.


Also, I heard there was a black thruhiker in '06. His trail name was Token. Like the kid on SouthPark. I think he named himself, the hiker that is.

There was a black thru-hiker in 06 named Breeze as well.

[Lone Wolf]

i find it funny that a buncha upper class whites are speculatin' on why black folks don't hike.

[weary]

i find it funny that a buncha upper class whites are speculatin' on why black folks don't hike.

Well. I don't really qualify as "upper class white." I never earned more than $35,000 a year. My folks earned much, much less.

If you think that is upper class, I'm happy to report what I know. On my walk north I talked with almost everyone I could find near the trail. But those few didn't have much of an answer. But then, most anything is better than nothing. Since you live a lot closer than I do to many blacks. Do a little investigation, LOne Wolf. I would love to see your report. I suspect a lot of us would love to see your report.

Weary

[kanga]

what are you smoking?

[weary]

what are you smoking?

What is who smoking? And why do you want to know? We need to be precise about such things.

[lancer_45]

I just finished my AT thru-hike back in October and this video had me rolling on the floor. I think I was the only one, so this video hit home.

[weary]

I just finished my AT thru-hike back in October and this video had me rolling on the floor. I think I was the only one, so this video hit home.

Congratulations! I'm sure many of us would love to hear about your experiences, but at least I would.

Weary

[lancer_45]

Congratulations! I'm sure many of us would love to hear about your experiences, but at least I would.

Weary

The first words out of my melanin saturated friends were, "Why the h3ll would you go hiking in the mountains. Why would you go hiking in the mountains in Georgia? There're mountains 30 minutes from where you live! Georgia to Maine! On Foot? You'll never make it. Why don't you just get a job and just settle down.

The more I thought about this counter argument, the more it made me want to prove to everybody they had a skewed version of life. I had been exposed to all types of outdoor activities as a child, teen, etc. and decided to hike the trail w/o ever hiking more than a day. This was the, "If you say I can't do something, I'll do it 10x; except crack." In my honest opinion it all comes down to exposure. If I had never been exposed to these activities, I probably would have not considered hiking at all. I mean hiking is tough, unfamiliar, and too primitive for most people who haven't participated in it before. Sorry for the life lesson.

[ed bell]

It sure is FUNNY that some have misunderstood a black video poking fun at white hikers.

A black video? Really? What exactly do you mean? Yes, the butt of the "jokes" in this video are aimed at the silly folks who encounter Underwood's character, but the video isn't some sort of advocacy statement. It's simply a funny piece that plays off of a well known stereotype. Like it or not, the diverse ethnic makeup of our population doesn't seem to carry over to hiking.

[sheepdog]

Never saw a black hiker on the trail. I don't think they exist.


just like ufo's
sasquatch
and moose

[Pedaling Fool]

If you feel the uncontrollable urge to discuss the political aspects of this humor piece try politics.com or any of the other hundreds of political sites out there.

Sorry about that, I also make fun of C-people, but I really get a kick out of watching L-people get spun up

[Pedaling Fool]

...It is so hilarious that whites don't get the joke that Blacks are laughing at them.
...
TW

I'm laughing with them and you and Weary are the butt of the joke

[Buzz_Lightfoot]

Never saw a black hiker on the trail. I don't think they exist.


just like ufo's
sasquatch
and moose

Yes they so. I've seen PLENTY of trails while hiking. Sheesh.