Student op-ed: Outdoor clubs are too white

Campus Reform ^ | Nov 16, 2017 | Patricio Aguilar and Elliot Dordick

[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.

[Jonty30]

The goal is to constrain whitey, not encourage blacks to take advantage of their opportunities.

[Scrambler Bob]

not everyone feels the same ease in entering the outdoors,”
= = =

I do not feel ease outdoors at night in a dark alley, or even on the street.

[Paladin2]

Uh, the sign is dumb as a rock?

[5th MEB]

I have a better idea, “Many National Parks are hundreds of miles from large cities”.
Lets just declare Chicago, Detroit, Southeast L.A., Compton, Ca, St. Louis, Mo, Baltimore, Md., etc, etc. National Parks.
Then they could visit or stay in a national park that is their natural environment.

[Vlad The Inhaler]

McCann then points to financial barriers preventing students of color from spending time outdoors.

There are only a few ways to deal with this glaring injustice:

1. Institute higher fees for whites to use paths and trails and parks - high enough to discourage many 'outdoorsy' types

2. Use the fee proceeds to pay blacks to go walking, hiking, camping and sitting around outside

3. Give ax handles to blacks with permission to break white people's legs if they are caught doing 'outdoorsy' stuff.

Those small changes should quickly curtail much of the white privlege that is at the root of this unacceptable race-based inequity.

/s

[beaversmom]

National Parks, the new “Racism”
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2318352/posts

Yosemite seeks a more diverse visitor base
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2800312/posts

[ProtectOurFreedom]

This white whiner is ignorant of "Outdoor Afro." We encountered an outing by this group in Marin County last year and talked to several of them when our trails merged. Nice folks with common interests. Instead of bitching and moaning like the infantile pansy snowflake he is, he should get off his lazy ass and build a chapter in SoCal.

Outdoor Afro. These great people are all outdoors enjoying everything life has to offer!
Outdoor Afro is a community that reconnects African-Americans with natural spaces and one another through recreational activities such as camping, hiking, biking, birding, fishing, gardening, skiing — and more!

We use social media to create interest communities, events, and to help shift the visual representation of who gets outdoors. Here is where you can start locally connecting with people who share your outdoor interests and aspirations!

[Charles Martel]

So, what do you do? Make "people of color" climb rocks? What if they don't want to?

No, that sounds like reverse cultural appropriation, or something.

[shanover]

There seems to be empty space between most Millenialtards craniums.

[Hambone 1934]

Maybe the young black democrat “yutes” are too busy raping and robbing whites in the big city??? Most of that is done outdoors.....

[CenTex]

Check the high school biology and rock hound clubs... That is one place it begins...

I belong to several “nature clubs” and black members are highly coveted.

I have recently returned from the Texas Master Naturalists state meeting and only one black member was present. He and I were side by side through over 7 hours of geology related lectures. I wanted to ask him what we had to do to get more blacks involved but since we had just met, I chose to wait until I know him a bit better.

We also have a black youth group in Bell County that our local Master Naturalists group is spending a lot of time with. We have two events this month with them. One is educational and the other is a guided hike in a local state park. Parents are encouraged to attend with the kids.

Outdoor activities such as camping and natural history has not been a big part of the black culture and unfortunately it is also being replaced in the white culture by electronic toys.

[EinNYC]

Outdoor clubs are too white? Gee. I have hiked and gone birding in most of the states between the East coast and the West one. I have rarely, very rarely, seen any black birders. That is a fact, that is not some imagined figure. I have gone on many nature cruises, such as whale watching, and there were also barely any blacks aboard. Seems that nature isn’t a hot ticket item for them, which is fine. Then don’t go and accuse outdoor clubs of being “too white”, unless you want to be LAUGHED AT.

[leaning conservative]

Satire becomes truth.......; )

[Blue Jays]

"...black members are highly coveted..."

---

Why not simply promote the clubs/activities and then whomever attends, attends.

[vpintheak]

Dude. Really? Being trapped in a vacuum has done that. Color? No.
Getting more people out of their holes in the city would solve a whole host of problems.

[EEGator]

Dude, yeah really.

Because the Africans, everywhere in the world, act so wonderfully.

[vpintheak]

Go pawn your BS somewhere else. I’m not interested.

[EEGator]

You’re the douchebag who wrote to me.

[Eagles6]

Such BS.

I've been an "outdoorsman" my entire life and you don't need to be in a national park to do it.

In fact I would bet the vast majority of "outdoorsy" stuff doesn't take place in a NP.

I visited some NPs 40 yrs ago and that's it.

Very few blacks and not a whole lot of Caucasians like being in the woods.

[NorthMountain]

Does it really take a government grant and a social worker to hold them by the hand to get a black family to Yellowstone?

Yes.

Yes it does.

Generations of blacks have learned that you get what you want by demanding that the government give it to you ... at someone else's expense. THAT is the lasting lesson of the so-called "civil rights" movement.