In 2020, birdwatcher Christian Cooper was thrust into the spotlight when he filmed a racially charged encounter with a white woman in New York’s Central Park. Out of solidarity, a group of Black nature enthusiasts created Black Birders Week, which has now become a yearly event, offering outdoor activities across the nation, including right here in Los Angeles.

The Black AF in Stem Collective held a group nature walk in Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area this month. For Brian Young, an art and education specialist with Nature Nexus Institute, working in nature has been a lifelong passion, but accessibility was an issue.

“I grew up in a lot of apartments, so didn't have a lot of my own. Going outside wasn't the same thing for me as someone who owned a house. But I was lucky enough to live down the street from a park... me and my siblings, we would go there all the time. And then, as I got older, I wanted to learn more and more about nature. And in high school I joined our Eco Club and from the Eco Club joined the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program, which is one of the programs I help run now,” Young said. 

For Black nature enthusiasts, the act of spending time outdoors can be dangerous. Dr. Earyn McGee, co-founder of Black AF in STEM, spoke about the warnings she received when she told people she wanted to work with animals. 

“When I went to Arizona to do grad school, people kept being like, 'Oh, you should get a gun to protect yourself.' And not from animals, not from rattlesnakes, from bears, but from humans," McGee shared. "If you're Black and you're outside, that poses a potential threat to your life. And I think that that fear is what prevents a lot of people from getting into the outdoors and being able to create a safe space for them. That is invaluable. Prior to Black Birder's Week, most of us had never even met in person. There are so many people who have worked very hard to make this possible. And that's why we're called the Black AF in STEM collectivex, because we came together to make this possible."

Accessibility to places like Kenneth Hahn and other reserves in Los Angeles is a major issue. Until recently, there were no safe paths into the park for pedestrians. Now, there is a bus that brings people to the park on weekends as well. 

“Historically, I would say that people of color just haven't had as much access. And that's what organizations like Outdoor Afro aim to change. We have so many people, especially here today, that were just like I was, just curious about it and know I want to go birdwatching on my own, but if the opportunity and space is presented for me. I would love to do that. I can provide people the space and hold space for them. They'll show up and they do,” said T’Essence Minnitee, a leader with Outdoor Afro.  

For more on the growing movement connecting Black communities and outdoor activities, head over to BlackAFinstem.com and OutdoorAfro.com.

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