Posted on 07/11/2015 7:57:43 AM PDT by Second Amendment First
SEATTLE — MOUNT RAINIER stands sentry over Seattle. On clear days, the mountain is the dominant backdrop, particularly in the city’s southeast, where its most racially diverse neighborhoods embrace their majestic setting with names like Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach.
Michelle Perry lives in an adjoining neighborhood and travels to work on Rainier Avenue South. The looming mountain enchants and beguiles nearly the entire way. She knows she can keep driving south and visit Rainier and the national park that surrounds it. Ms. Perry, 58, an African-American, has an idea about what she’d find up there — mosquitoes, which she hates, and bears, cougars and wolves, which she fears.
“The mountains are beautiful to watch,” she said, pausing for effect, “from a distance.”
As it approaches its centennial on Aug. 25, 2016, the National Park Service says it wants to encourage people like Ms. Perry to visit. It has its work cut out for it.
*
Jeff Cheatham grew up in southeast Seattle, and still lives in Mount Rainier’s shadow. Yet, he said of Mount Rainier and other national parks, “I’ve never been, and never thought about going.” A 29-year-old African-American writer, Mr. Cheatham said he didn’t even know what a national park was, or what he would be likely to find at one. “As far as I know, it’s a big field of grass,” he said.
A neighbor, Carla DeRise, has been to Mount Rainier and other parks, and is game to go again. She just can’t get any of her friends to come along. They are worried about unfriendly white people, hungry critters and insects, and unforgiving landscapes, said Ms. DeRise, 51, an African-American. So she mainly hikes alone, albeit with some anxiety. “I don’t have a weapon,” she quipped. “Yet.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
+1
We all know the national parks are full of unfriendly white people, right?
The same reason our museums are!
It is the inherent micro aggression of nature to exert white privilege against minorities. Bears, coyotes, deer, wolves, jack-rabbits, elk, et al are all inherently racist.
Hey NYT staff, maybe the folks should get it to the Hamptons more often.
How about building a public bus stop on the beach
What an absolute pantload.
The mountain is white too. Perhaps its racist.
Not so much the unfriendly white people but the unfriendly black bears! Is that racist?
Racist: One who sees race in every issue.
Why is white so horrible? I truly don’t care and don’t think about the amount of melanin in people’s skin at various national parks. I don’t think that ANY amount necessitates action. I do not believe national parks have a need for a certain low point of melanin. They are there for whoever wants to go, from anywhere in the world.
If you wouldn’t write an article, “Why are the parks in Los Angeles so Mexican on a Sunday afternoon?” Then don’t write this article either.
Nothing to loot in the great parks.
And hiking with your pants around your knees and $300 sneakers just doesn’t work.
One day, when you drive up to Bo Jangles or KFC or Zaxbys or Zesto’s or Church’s and ask for white meat chicken you will be branded a racist and your tag number recorded for future reference in the Known Racists Data Base.
Why are the Hamptons and Martha’s Vineyard so white?
For these purposes the fact that every park and garden in the country has swarmed with “Asians” since the ‘50’s ( known innocently as “orientals” then)doesn’t matter. They count as “white” here.
” The park service needs to shout to minorities from its iconic mountaintops, “We want you here!”
If they don’t want to go, then just respect their wishes you crazy busy body!
I am not white, I am ‘uncolored’.
“Why Are Our Parks So White?”
Snow? Maybe the Supreme Court can fix that too.
Because they charge an admission and they don't take EBT cards.
DITTO!
dear mr. nelson, author of the article,
The reason the parks are ‘so white’, is because they do not allow folks to reside in them long enough to have a stoop and a mailbox!
Go figure!
The parks were instituted long before the first race riot in Watts, by the OTHER President named Roosevelt. You know, the one that was a conservationist, hunter, military leader, and had balls, UNLIKE the mulatto queer-in-charge, today.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.