We hope you will join us in celebrating and recognizing the past and present contributions of the Black community toward land conservation, outdoor recreation, and environmental awareness via this great article published by Outdoor Afro! You can also check out the ‘Celebrating Black Voices in Outdoor Spaces’ blog post from Take Me Outside for a great list of resources that ‘explore the deep connections between Black communities and the environment. These stories highlight the ongoing fight for climate justice, celebrate Black joy in nature, and inspire action.’
If you’re interested in learning more or engaging deeper with Black History Month, we encourage you to explore some of the links and resources below:
Read
- 10 Examples of Environmental Racism and How It Works – Ivana Ramirez (Yes Magazine)
- Guide to Outdoor Allyship – Danielle Williams (The Melanin Base Camp)
- The Atlantic Black Box Project – “Through collaborative research, place-based education programs, digital humanities projects, events, and advocacy, The Atlantic Black Box Project seeks to engage the public in the collective rewriting of our regional history.” Explore their list of books and other online resources.
Listen
Watch
- African Americans in the Great Outdoors – Dr. Carolyn Finney discusses how the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and racial violence have shaped cultural understandings of the “great outdoors” and determined who should and can have access to natural spaces.
- It’s A Family Affair – A Personal Conversation about Black History in Maine – The discussion explores Black History in Maine with panelists sharing their family’s history and experience in Maine dating back to the 18th century.
- Click here to find recordings of presentations from Atlantic Black Box’s Speaker Series, in which leading scholars and experienced community researchers share their knowledge about the region’s suppressed history.
Do Something
- Explore the resources above and share with friends and family so we can all share a better and deeper understanding of Maine’s Black History.
- Support local Black owned businesses.
- Check out the Portland Freedom Trail – Did you know Portland, Maine was a key stop on the journey from Kentucky to Canada? Portland played a pivotal role in the Underground Railroad, with many passing through before continuing to Brunswick, Topsham, Augusta, Bangor, and Brewer. The Portland Freedom Trail is a must-visit and this self-guided walking tour brings history to life, taking you through the city’s rich abolitionist past with stops at landmarks that helped shape the fight for freedom.
Photo taken from www.visitportland.com.
