Black Faces, White Spaces

Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors

By: Carolyn Finney

Narrated by: Chanté McCormick

Why are African Americans so underrepresented when it comes to interest in nature, outdoor recreation, and environmentalism? In this thought-provoking study, Carolyn Finney looks beyond the discourse of the environmental justice movement to examine how the natural environment has been understood, commodified, and represented by both White and Black Americans. Bridging the fields of environmental history, cultural studies, critical race studies, and geography, Finney argues that 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.

Drawing on a variety of sources from film, literature, and popular culture, and analyzing different historical moments, including the establishment of the Wilderness Act in 1964 and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Finney reveals the perceived and real ways in which nature and the environment are racialized in America. Looking toward the future, she also highlights the work of African Americans who are opening doors to greater participation in environmental and conservation concerns.

©2021 The University of North Carolina Press (P)2021 The University of North Carolina Press

Critic reviews

Makes a clear case for the dominant culture's habitual (though, sometimes unwitting) rejection of African Americans."—Library Journal, starred review

Weaving scholarly analysis with interviews of leading black environmentalists and ordinary Americans, Finney traces the environmental legacy of slavery and Jim Crow segregation, which mapped the wilderness as a terrain of extreme terror and struggle for generations of blacks—as well as a place of refuge."—Boston Globe

A must-read for those who hope to make the parks matter to diverse populations."—Sierra

A must read!

Inspiring and leaves me thinking about racism and our land in a completely new way! A must read!

this is an important book

This book can be very academically wordy and a lot of the vocabulary went over my head but I still got the gist of it. This is such an important book to read especially for anyone working in the park service like myself. I'm so happy that Finney put it all out there, says it how it is, backs up all her facts up with research, and provide real solutions on how to increase diversity in the outdoors as well as be more inclusive in the parks.

My Face in White Spaces

The novel was a read revealing the academic research of the author about the environment and the lack of representation to include America's people of color.
The entire marketing of the US National Parks, Monuments, and environmental movements was never an inclusive-themed American idea for people of color.
Since I began touring National Parks and Monuments as an African-American over thirty years ago, the author specifically defined my beliefs since I started traveling around the US, via motorcycle, by overlanding vehicle, and currently by RV.
There was a time when I would encounter no more than one or two other African-Americans in a National Park or Monument on a two or three-week trip outside of the National Parks in the DC metro area.
Once on a tour of the Grand Canyon, I encountered a young African-American woman and her mother. We were so joyous to see one another as we talked about the magnificent scenery we shared. Then we discussed the lack of African Americans visiting the National Parks.

I have encountered many experiences with my children and myself witnessing the surprise of White Americans seeing a dark skin single black man pull off his motorcycle helmet or walk into their business, being their first encounter with any person of color other than seeing one on television.

However, in the past ten years, with the increase in African-Americans and people of color touring National Parks and Monuments, I now encounter 3-5 African-Americans at a time.
In particular, on the hiking trails, many young black and brown people have backpacked the three famous long-distance routes, and outdoor magazines and podcasts have highlighted them to show their diversity in recognizing their achievements.

In the novel, I have highlighted significant comments the author made about the fears established by White Supremacists who terrorized my ancestors and other people of color into believing traveling across the US was not for them.

On many occasions during my travels, I have encountered indigenous people for whom we occupy the lands of their ancestors.
They have been excluded from American history along with the historical knowledge that every signed treaty has been violated as corporations profited from their stolen lands with the knowledge and blessing of the US government and its politicians.

The author's detailed research reveals the hypocrisies and problems with ideas for solutions for the National Parks Service as attempts at diversifying their organization are ongoing.

This novel is a must-read for all tax-paying American citizens to explore the US National Parks and Monuments. Every destination reveals America's historical hypocrisies and is an integral source of mental health for the mind, body, and soul.

"Broadening the environmental movement to include the great diversity of the national population requires a full reckoning with this history."

Pretty good, but slightly redundant.

I like this book and would recommend it. The only complaint I have is that the introductory part of the book says the same thing over and over again. Once the author gets going though, it's an interesting, enlightening and powerful read (or listen rather) that explores the relationship between black people and the environment.