April 25, 2017
Yesterday it was all about marching. Today it’s going to be about hiking. Alas, not the real thing, given that trails are muddy streams and/or blocked by landslides wherever you look in this extraordinarily wet state this spring.
Instead, it is about what a Black woman experienced when hiking the Appalachian Trail last year. A young friend sent me the link in response to my “profiles in courage” some weeks back. The article is long, revealing worlds most of us simply never encounter much less understand, heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time. Do yourself a favor and read it through to the glorious end. I felt that if only an iota of the gleaned knowledge sticks in my memory and helps me act differently in this world, there might be progress.
https://www.outsideonline.com/2170266/solo-hiking-appalachian-trail-queer-black-woman
Photographs are of young people of my acquaintance. I experience them as quite resilient right now and try to imagine that that carries over into their young adulthood – I even have the occasional fantasy that things might have improved by the time they hit their twenties. Probably groundless optimism, or wishful thinking or both. I so want them to be not harmed permanently by racism. It almost hurts how much I want that.
Steve Tilden
Yes, extraordinary woman. I cannot grasp the hatred some people feel toward black people. I worry about Birtukan, how to help her become strong in the face of the hatred she will undoubtedly encounter. Reading this account would help if she were old enough to grasp it.
Yesterday, a young black woman approached me in the Lowes parking lot. It was drizzling, and I wanted to get in, but she asked me for five dollars. I don’t know if it is foolish to give money like that, but I often do because I have more than they. I only had a 20, but I gave it to her, but I said the3 price of the twenty was she was going to have to see a picture of my granddaughter. She thought that was funny, and patiently waited for me to find it. She was delighted when she saw it. I hope she left with some sense that some white people are not bad.
Mark Rolofson
Very interesting article in Outside. Wow what a long hike. Shocking to hear just how unfriendly many southern towns still are to Black people. Good to hear that people on the trail were friendly & inviting. Most outdoor activities & sports have very few black participants. Generally I have thought of it as socio economics & not racism that is the cause. Thankfully times are finally changing.
As a rock climber of 45 years, I have seen the changes in my sport from a male dominated sport to a sport with many women. Still, most of participants are white with many of Asian descent. Certainly there are strong latinos in the US & visiting from south of the border. Black climbers are very few. Those few are very driven, talented & strong. Since the 1980s , I have only met a handful of black climbers, all of whom climb mostly with white partners. Race & nationality isn’t a factor amongst most climbers. Regardless of where you’re from or the color of your skin, we find a lot in common & share the same passion & goals. I attached a video about a young sponsored black climber named Kia Lightner. Very cool.