The Outdoor Afro Family is on vacation this week, practicing what we preach: camping in the mountains!
In the meantime, we hope you are creating some fun summer memories of your own in the outdoors.
Can’t wait to share with you all the details and photos!
Have a great week,
Rue

nullDianne Glave has been a friend of Outdoor Afro from the beginning, starting when I discovered her important work related to African American foodways to research for a blog I wrote last year. Dianne’s newest book, Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage has just begun arriving in mailboxes this week. So we asked Dianne to share with us some of the journey leading her to write this terrific work, and we hope you will be inspired to purchase your own copy that covers a ground-breaking …

Rue at 7, circa 1980
Regardless of how patriotic you are, the 4th of July represents family gatherings, fireworks, and great food — all to be experienced outdoors. Growing up, my family spent nearly every 4th of July at our place in Clearlake, California.
Cousins and close family friends would join us for non-stop swimming, hiking, talent shows, and driveway basketball games. Our fathers closely tended the 55-gallon drum that cooked “low and slow” meats seasoned at least two days before. And inside on the kitchen stove, the pressure cooker hissed the readiness …

What a great way to begin the day. I woke up to some buzz in my inbox this morning about the new REI commercial featuring an unmistakably brown family — WOW!
Check it out:

Does this commercial inspire you to get outdoors? Tell me what you think!
Great job REI!

Wife and mother of two, Lisa Hardy-Reems of Oakland, California shares in words, photos, and video her recent drive with her family to Yosemite over Memorial Day weekend.
Had you ever been to Yosemite before?

I’ve been, but only as a child or as a young adult, so I never really had the chance to take it all in as an adult and truly appreciate the park.

What are some of your other experiences with outdoor spaces?

I have always preferred to be outside rather than indoors. Enjoying whatever weather we are having, …

I had an amazing childhood, but did not know about a lot of opportunities that were available to me.

 
I met Karen last week at a local college event, and discovered we had some wonderful things in common, such as motherhood, blogging, and a passion for the outdoors. Karen shares with us how she discovered outdoor recreation, and what it means to her family today.
 
What experiences did you have as a youth that influence how you interact with natural spaces today?
As a kid, other than going to a local park to …

I met Angelou last year at the Breaking the Color Barrier Conference, although I got to know her better recently during our time in Washington DC last month.

Angelou’s work as Executive Director of Greening Youth Foundation is changing the world. I hope you will enjoy getting to know her as much as I did!
What experiences did you have as a youth that influenced how you view and protect natural spaces today?
Although I grew up in the densely populated concrete streets of Jersey City, New Jersey; I spent every summer of …

Remi (10) and Sade (8)
Just got a shout from Zetha Nobles who resides with her family in the hills of Oakland, California, where she and her children enjoyed some horse riding this afternoon. She writes, “It was so spur of the moment! I love us being outdoors and in the natural elements!”

Folarin (14)

Patina and Nate
Patina and her husband Nate were spotted at Devil’s Lake State Park, Wisconsin, sitting on purple and pink quartzite rocks. Patina says, “We love hiking when it’s nice out, and last winter we started skiing and snowboarding.” …

Outdoor Afro took a short trip over to East Oakland, California to participate in the community event: Love Yo’ Mama, hosted by the organization Communities for a Better Environment for Earth Day.

“Green is Good for the Hood” was this year’s theme, which was intended to create local awareness and a response to environmental concerns at a neighborhood level.
The event started with a rally to highlight environmental and health issues in Oakland at Tassafaronga Recreation Center, followed by a parade with Scraper Bikers, drummers, and youth dancing. In the afternoon, there …

Quality Time!
Just received this picture tonight from Brian Drayton of Richmond, California. His family was Spotted on Sunday (SOS) in the San Francisco Bay kayaking!
Thanks for sharing Brian!