Diversity and Inclusion in the National Parks & Great Outdoors
As outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of America’s parks, we have been able to experience the benefits of connecting with nature and our diverse landscapes.
From city parks where we can get a taste of green amid cemented city blocks, to recharging hikes in the millions of acres of our state parks, to treks and climbs in our breathtaking national parks, the opportunity to be in nature is something we hold invaluable.
Undoubtedly, our public lands should be enjoyed by all of us, but when we look into who is getting access to our lands, we see alarmingly disproportionate statistics that highlight a gap between population demographics and park visitation percentages.
Under-Representation of Minorities in the Parks
When we examine the reasons why these gaps are present—access, education, resources, discrimination and prejudice—we understand that systemic racism in the U.S. is the main contributor to these disappointing disproportions.
In our national park system, for example, Black Americans make up about 7 percent of visitors, while they are 13 percent of the U.S. population. On the other hand, 78 percent of visitors are White, even though they constitute less than 64 of the general population.
The fact that the Jim Crow era ended in only 1968 showcases that Black American generations have only recently gained the freedom and liberty to move around this country. Still today, minorities face prejudice and discrimination within our outdoor spaces and, often, cannot safely and comfortably enjoy outdoor recreation.
As national park enthusiasts and advocates of spending time in nature, we are committed to addressing racism within our industry.
To do so, we—along with several other national park bloggers, podcasters and content creators—are taking action to use our platforms to contribute to the progress that is much needed within the outdoor space and community.
As a part of this community, The National Parks Experience is highlighting organizations that are dedicated to bridging the race gap in the outdoor space. All of these organizations work towards more inclusion in the outdoors by connecting recreational opportunities and experiences to people of color.
Each month, starting in September, we will feature and focus on one organization, with the intent to showcase their hard work, raise awareness and support them through funding and donations.
An overview of organizations we have supported can be found here. This document contains information about what these organizations are doing and how you can donate to them directly.
We encourage anyone in the outdoor space who wants to become more involved to join us!
Feel free to email us directly at diversenps@gmail.com and we’ll be happy to follow up with information on how to join us in taking action to diversify our outdoor spaces.