Overview of Why being Black and outdoorsy is a whole thing
This Code Switch episode explores why outdoor recreation can feel complicated for Black people, especially in Oregon, where the state’s history of white supremacy, exclusion, and segregation still shapes who feels welcome on trails, in parks, and in nature. The hosts talk with Black Oregonians Danielle and Pamela Slaughter about reclaiming the outdoors, building community, and making “frolicking” in nature feel normal, safe, and joyful for Black people.
Main themes and takeaways
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Being “outdoorsy” is culturally coded
- The hosts joke about being “outside curious” rather than avid hikers, but the episode digs into how camping, hiking, and national parks have long been framed as white spaces.
- Even something as simple as going on a trail can carry social and historical baggage for Black people.
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Oregon’s racial history matters
- Oregon was founded with white supremacy built into its identity, including laws that excluded Black residents.
- The episode connects that legacy to later patterns: anti-Chinese exclusion, KKK influence, redlining, and ongoing white nationalist undercurrents.
- That context helps explain why some Black residents still feel out of place in the state’s outdoors.
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Nature can be healing, but also triggering
- For Black Americans, the outdoors can evoke beauty, family, and freedom—but also slavery, forced labor, lynching, and danger.
- The episode emphasizes that the history of Black trauma in nature shapes how people move through outdoor spaces today.
Danielle’s perspective: “frolicking” as reclamation
Danielle, a young Black man in Oregon, describes wanting to reclaim childlike wonder and shift the image of what Black masculinity and outdoor joy can look like.
Key points from Danielle’s story
- He grew up feeling small as a Black person in Oregon.
- He wants to create a space where Black people can reconnect with play, curiosity, and nature.
- His message is about visibility: if Black people keep showing up outdoors, that presence becomes normal.
Pamela Slaughter and People of Color Outdoors
Pamela Slaughter, founder of People of Color Outdoors (POCO), is a major voice in the episode. Her organization has thousands of members and hosts hundreds of gatherings each year, including:
- hiking
- kayaking
- birding
- cookouts
- outdoor art and community events
Why POCO exists
- Pamela argues that when Black and brown people are seen outdoors, reactions often shift from welcoming to suspicious.
- She started POCO after noticing how her grandson and nephews were treated differently as they got older and more “man-like.”
- She wants to normalize the presence of people of color in outdoor spaces.
Her core insight
“We’ve got to make our presence normal.”
Oregon history through Pamela’s family story
Pamela also shares personal family history that illustrates Oregon’s complicated past:
- Her family came to Portland during World War II for shipyard work.
- They lived in Vanport, a segregated city created for workers of color.
- Vanport was devastated when the levee broke, forcing Black families to rebuild their lives in a hostile environment.
- Pamela grew up in a mostly Black neighborhood and says she had a happy childhood, including time at nature camps and trails.
Black history in the outdoors is also about survival
The episode reframes Black relationships with nature as not just recreation, but survival and resistance:
- Enslaved Black people were forced to work outdoors in fields.
- Many escaped into forests, where they were hunted down.
- Black people also foraged, hunted, and relied on the land for food and survival.
- Later, laws and social norms made even basic outdoor behaviors—like foraging or lingering—criminalized or suspicious.
Safety concerns are real
The episode does not minimize the danger Black people can face outdoors.
Examples shared
- Pamela and her children were harassed by skinheads on a trail.
- On a crowded trail near Multnomah Falls, racists provoked and mocked her, causing her injury.
- Members of POCO have experienced people refusing to look at them, making comments, or acting as though Black people do not belong there.
Big takeaway
Even when the outdoors is beautiful, it is not automatically safe or welcoming for everyone.
Advice for first-time hikers
Pamela’s advice for people of color new to hiking is simple and accessible:
- Start with an easy trail.
- Focus on the experience, not the athletic challenge.
- Ask yourself what you want from nature:
- birds
- water sounds
- butterflies
- a scenic view
- fresh air
- Begin with short walks if that feels better than a full hike.
Final takeaway
The episode argues that Black people absolutely belong in outdoor spaces, but belonging is not just about showing up—it’s about history, safety, community, and visibility. Through Danielle’s pride, Pamela Slaughter’s organizing, and the broader history of Oregon, Code Switch shows that “being Black and outdoorsy” is not a contradiction; it’s a reclamation.