Being Black in Nature: A Conversation with Dr. Carolyn Finney and Alex Bailey (Replay)

What does it mean to reconnect with nature when you've always been connected? Dr. Carolyn Finney, author of "Black Faces, White Spaces," joins Alex Bailey of Black Outside Inc. for a transformative conversation about reclaiming Black presence in outdoor spaces.

Dr. Finney shares her powerful personal journey growing up on a 12-acre estate where her parents worked as caretakers for nearly 50 years. When a conservation easement was placed on the property with no acknowledgment of her family's decades of stewardship, this erasure became the catalyst for her groundbreaking research. "I don't have to cancel anybody out to make space for myself," Dr. Finney explains, challenging us to reimagine environmental relationships beyond traditional narratives.

Alex Bailey describes Black Outside Inc.'s mission to create culturally relevant outdoor experiences for Black youth through programs like Camp Founder Girls and the Charles Raunchy Bloom Project. Together, they explore how outdoor spaces can become sites of joy, liberation, and healing when approached through culturally affirming frameworks that honor the full spectrum of Black experiences.

The conversation delves into profound territory: the false dichotomy between environmental urgency and diversity work, the importance of rest and dreaming in creating new futures, and how to connect Black youth to environmental careers by honoring their existing knowledge. Dr. Finney also shares details about her upcoming HBO documentary "Hidden in Plain Sight," which transforms a story of loss into one of collective accountability for Black environmental histories.

This episode isn't just about diversifying outdoor spaces—it's about fundamentally reimagining who belongs in nature and whose stories count. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, educator, or anyone interested in creating more inclusive environmental movements, this conversation will transform how you think about our relationship with the natural world. Subscribe now and join us in expanding beyond the sandbox to play on the entire beach of possibility.

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