Posted on 11/18/2017 10:38:02 AM PST by Mr. Mojo
~ Student Malcolm McCann complained in a recent op-ed that outdoor clubs at at Claremont Colleges are "predominately white spaces."
~ The op-ed argues that white imperialism, as well as the fact that three prominent naturalist figures in U.S. history happen to be white, generate this pervasive racial exclusion.
In a recent op-ed for the school paper, a white Pitzer student frets that the colleges’ outdoor programs, though open to all students and well-funded, are “predominantly white spaces” that deny people of color “access to the outdoors.”
The op-ed, written by Malcolm McCann, a freshman at Pitzer College—one of the member institutions of the Claremont Colleges—calls out clubs like Pitzer Outdoor Adventure (POA) and On the Loose (OTL), among the most amply funded outdoor clubs at the Claremont Colleges, for being “predominately white spaces."
“Both clubs claim to be accessible: while trips are open to any student wanting to go, not everyone feels the same ease in entering the outdoors," McCann claims, saying, "This discomfort is unfortunately caused by existing racial boundaries."
The article contends that white imperialism, as well as the fact that three prominent naturalist figures in U.S. history happen to be white, generate this pervasive racial exclusion.
“Historically, white people in imperialist conquests have appropriated land as their own," McCann asserts. "North America rightfully belongs to indigenous communities, yet it has been taken away from them by force. Consequently, a false sense of ownership of nature permeates white America.”
“Similarly, the image of a modern outdoor enthusiasts is white, as is the historical image of a naturalist," he continues. "The great icons of nature—John Muir, Walt Whitman, Henry David Thoreau—are all white men. At present, most famous rock climbers are also disproportionately white."
McCann also takes the term “outdoorsy” as another expression of “whiteness” that excludes people of color from outdoor activities.
“This whiteness manifests in the term 'outdoorsy'—a descriptor for those who spend a significant time in the outdoors, who are equipped with the necessary gear, and who feel connected to nature,” he says. “The image of the 'outdoorsy individual' is an exclusive classification that gives white people the authority to venture into the outdoors freely, leaving people of color behind.”
McCann then points to financial barriers preventing students of color from spending time outdoors.
“Many National Parks are hundreds of miles from large cities. Consequently, only those with access to a vehicle and money for gas will be able to enjoy them” he explains. “Similarly, only students with economic privilege have the resources to attend summer programs that teach wilderness skills.”
He adds that the “emphasis on acquiring requisite skills … excludes low-income individuals.”
The Claremont Colleges’ outdoor clubs, however, are extremely well-funded, as McCann concedes, and students’ financial barriers usually are surmounted with the assistance of college funding. In addition to heavily subsidized transportation options for students making their own trips to the outdoors, Pomona College’s outdoor club sponsors several free or nearly-free trips a year, as well as loaning gear to any 5C student at no charge.
At Claremont McKenna College, the Outdoor Initiative organizes and funds several outdoor camping trips during holidays like Thanksgiving and Fall Break. At Pitzer College, the “Pitzer Outdoor Adventure” club of which McCann is a member began this school year with over $7,500 of funding.
McCann suggests several solutions to the inclusivity crisis he claims to identify in his article. Among these are affirming that “nature exists as a collective space owned by all by virtue of being human, not by virtue of being white,” having “more accessible, entry-level workshops and trips that do not require advanced technical skills,” and encouraging white people not to exert domination of the word “outdoorsy.”
McCann’s outcry against outdoor clubs and activities is not the first to come out of the Claremont Colleges—last year a speedo hike organized by the On the Loose outdoors club of the Claremont Colleges was cancelled over concerns of “body image” and “bro-iness.”
Interestingly, McCann is a white student, sporting hiking gear in his Facebook profile photo. When asked for further information, McCann asked to remain off the record, and did not address whether he is part of the problem he identifies.
https://youtu.be/7Dp4EtScG2c
Black folks don’t camp.
More whites in outdoors? Must be racism!
Some of the old boys I met in Nags Head were there for the fishing.
One black gentlemen, probably about 70, had been fishing there for twenty years. It was interesting. During the day when the fishing was poor, the beaches were filled with vacationing beach goers. At dusk, the locals from further in land (black and white) showed up to fish.
If I was the President of the College I would force them to Live up to their rhetoric:
Effective Immediately, for the entire month of December, ANY Student that enters school property with ANY item or product that was invented, created, or popularized by a White Person, will be Permanently EXPELLED!!!
MAKE THEM CHOKE ON IT
You’re not being fair! Those sneakers needed rescuing from the flood by the sneakers
What about South America, or the rest of the world for that matter?
Sounds like this self hating white doesn't have a clue as to what he is talking about.
Plenty of rednecks out here in BFE, boots, hats and all-most are Anglo or Latino, but there are Black rednecks here as well. Some people just don’t like the outdoors because they are afraid of wild animals. bugs, etc I guess-they must have been raised in a glass jar or something...
There’s a whole lot of deprogramming that needs to be done and not a lot of time to do it. I say we adopt the Singaporean tradition of caning for these SJWs.
The National Park Service has bent over backwards trying to get more PC attendance numbers for minorities, same with the articles and ads in Backpacker magazine, with blacks WAY over represented based on their participation. They push and push, just like with TV ads which make you think 80% of America is non-white.
I guess we will have to start forced busing of blacks to the outdoors to make this racist kid happy.
Is ANY GROUP ever considered “too [any race but white]”?
If not, why not? Would that be racist?
Please, in the vocabulary of sets and exclusions, using logic, explain how that is possible.
Dear Malcolm,
Suck it up. Being around white people won’t hurt you.
Being a pansie your entire life will.
Nothing but love,
L
This is pretty much the case.
Last year I did a hike up Mount Moosilauke in New Hampshire (it’s practically owned by Dartmouth an Ivy League university) and noticed the crowd of students that were out at the lodge that Dartmouth owns. There were a few asians and asian indians but couldn’t see a black face amongst the hundreds of students that were out there.
“...not everyone feels the same ease in entering the outdoors...”
Hey! Not a real good idea to let your FEELINGS govern what you do. That is just a snowflake excuse for sitting at your computer typing away while suffering from Chronic Perceived Racist Syndrome. I could not care less about your feelings in this regard. So either join a “white” outdoor club or start your own, but quit your infantile whining.
More appropriate to the whining at hand, the colleges should just make membership in these outdoor clubs mandatory for all students, regarding of whether the individual students desire to do so. Make it a graduation requirement that each student is mandated to spend at least seven days camping in a national park .. paid for by the college .. per school year before being given their diploma.
Watch the minorities whine about THAT one....
Insanity.
So, what do you do? Make "people of color" climb rocks? What if they don't want to?
I think people should be able to choose whatever group they want to belong to. Now we have “black only” spaces and so on.
But since we are segregating again maybe there should be “white spaces”. At least be consistent.
I’m tired of these racist pig Millenials.
I didn’t know I have a false sense of ownership nature because I am white. I did not know that. /s
Too many whites go skiing too. Let’s get rid of that sport. Or, really, anything that is played on white [racist] snow.
“The image of the ‘outdoorsy individual’ is an exclusive classification that gives white people the authority to venture into the outdoors freely, leaving people of color behind.”
The Stupid, it burns!
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