Of course, in an increasingly divided world, the issues raised by the Black Lives Matter movement have seen those on the other side of the political and cultural fence doubling down on their standpoint – refusing to give an inch to people they deem opponents. See the “All Lives Matter” reply guys, hammering out the same short-sighted view over and over again.

The spotlight, which initially focused on the police, soon zoomed out and began to illuminate everything from the low percentage of black people in senior management positions, to the higher number of COVID-19 deaths in the BAME community, to the use of ‘blackface’ in comedy shows. Mirrors were put up everywhere, with many more white people than ever before taking a moment to reflect on their privileged position in society.

The outdoor community too has had its own reckoning with inclusivity and diversity, with more and more publications, programmes, and podcasts covering the ‘whiteness’ of the adventure space. Predictably, this had led to a backlash from the right – see the response to Dwayne Fields appearance on Countryfile, and the online comments that followed a piece written for Mpora by Phil Young headlined ‘Why the outdoors has a race problem and how it can be fixed.’

“They don’t understand that there are barriers to participation that are related to racist white people making people of colour feel uncomfortable in the outdoors”

I ask Dudley why he thinks so many still refuse to acknowledge the problem.

“There are a number of white Americans who don’t see themselves as being racist, and they don’t think in that frame of mind so they don’t understand that there are barriers to participation that are related to racist white people making people of colour feel uncomfortable in the outdoors,” he tells me. 

“In their mind, racism is a problem between people of colour and racist white people, and they are neither people of colour nor are they racists in their minds. So, they don’t believe that the problem exists and, in some cases, that it’s a problem they need to help solve.

“They feel as though ‘that thing has nothing to do with me and I’m just going to live my life, and if people of colour don’t feel welcome in the outdoors I don’t understand it. It’s not my problem, and I’m just going to keep on doing what I do.’ If that makes sense.”

The conversation moves towards how heightened racial tensions, brought about by Trump’s presidency, have seeped into America’s outdoor spaces and impacted how people of colour are treated in those places. His response is a clear rebuttal of those who constantly insist on telling everyone to “leave politics out of it.”

“For the first time in my life, for the first time in forty years of outdoor recreation, this is the first time that in the places I typically go – national forests, state forests, campgrounds and places like that – this is the first time I’ve felt that there is a possibility of some of ‘that’ out there and it is somewhat concerning to me,” he says, on the topic of more vocal, up-front, racism.

“In the past, I’ve gone to these outdoor places – camped and done whatever I’ve wanted to and it never really crossed my mind. Now though, it is something in my mind if I was to go out there and do some of that stuff this year.”

“This is the first time I’ve felt that there is a possibility of some of ‘that’ out there”

Despite his concerns, it’s clear that Dudley is steadfast in his commitment to continue enjoying nature and the outdoors as much as possible – citing the positive impact it had on him growing up as a kid in Columbus, Ohio, and how it became an escape tool from reality. 

“I got into the outdoors as a way to sort of escape some of the trauma related to having parents who abused alcohol,” he says. “They were good parents, they did a good job of raising us, but I feel like part of their issue was the things we’re still dealing with now. Systemic racism made their lives really hard in the early sixties when I was born. Alcohol became an escape from that life of being subordinate people in the United States of America.

“Systemic racism made their lives really hard”

“There was lots of yelling in the house, and that sort of thing going on, and so I found that when I was playing with fish in my aquarium, or butterflies and bees on my front porch, that nature was a portal for me to get out of that chaotic environment.

“We would go on these family picnics to a place called Hoover Reservoir. In that space I would be out in the woods near the picnic area, and just sort of exploring nature. When I was in that place, I wasn’t thinking about all that trauma with the yelling and screaming and arguments that went on. And so, I realised that nature had the ability to help me recover from that trauma. It’s how I got into it, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”

Dudley is keen to pass on his love of nature to young people for the exact same reason he got into it; the escapism and the mental health benefits. He occasionally, although not as often as he would like he says, leads events to encourage young people of colour to get outdoors.

“It helped me so much as a kid psychologically,” he tells me. “Having a connection to nature is universal. No matter where we live it can be beneficial. It’s a good way to relieve stress, going for a walk in a local woods or something like that. People don’t realise how much it can help your mind being in these green spaces, listening to nature sounds, and getting fresh air. It’s the kind of thing you have to experience to really appreciate.”

“I wanted to create a set of outdoor role models for the African American community”

Published in 2006, his book ‘A Youth’s Look at Black and Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places’ was all about inspiring black people to get outdoors by demonstrating that being outside in big natural environments wasn’t just a white person’s pursuit.

“I wanted to create a set of outdoor role models for the African American community, let them share aspects of their lives, ultimately send out that message that black people can enjoy nature; appreciate it. I hoped it would encourage people of colour who read the book,” he says.

Bringing our conversation full circle back to the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020, and the fairly widespread introspecting that’s occurred this year, I ask him if he feels his book is even more relevant now than when it was first released fourteen years ago.

“In many ways, it was ahead of its time,” he tells me. 

“The subject matter wasn’t really on people’s radar when I first wrote it, and that’s probably why it’s considered a groundbreaking book because nobody had ever written a book like that before. I know people of colour who spoke to me after it came out, who’d been hoping to see something like it, and they were telling me that the book was the first of its kind.”

“Issues that keep African Americans from enjoying the outdoors have not been solved”

Despite the improved book sales in recent months however, Dudley, it’s clear, hasn’t lost sight of the bigger picture: “It’s a shame that the book is still so relevant fourteen years later and that issues that keep African Americans from enjoying the outdoors have not been solved.” 

After four years of a far-right baiting President Trump, and with elections looming, America seemingly stands on the precipice of its future direction and standing within the world. 

Trump’s rival for the White House is Joe Biden. Biden, who doesn’t have a spotless record when it comes to insensitive statements on race – just earlier this month he told journalists there was a lack of diversity of thought and culture in the black community, has picked Kamala Harris as the first African-American and Asian-American woman to run for Vice President. 

Well away from Washington D.C, and all of the politics that goes with it, the great wild and untouched expanses of North America sit waiting to be explored.

“It’s always been Zion National Park, and the National parks of Utah, for me. They’re probably my favourite places in the United States to go and recreate, and explore, and be a part of,” Dudley tells me. 

“I like places that show no sign of human activity and encroachment”

“On the face, they look as though they haven’t been touched by humans. They’re desert spaces, arid landscapes, gorgeous red red rock. To some degree, they look quite inhospitable and I find beauty in that. And I would say that sometimes the more inhospitable a place appears, the more beautiful it is. I like places that show no sign of human activity and encroachment.”

A few weeks after my chat with Dudley the Trump administration announces plans to open up part of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a 19 million acre refuge about the size of South Carolina, to oil and gas leasing.

You May Also Like

Why We Won’t Be ‘Staying In Our Lane’ When It Comes To Race And The Outdoors

30 Organisations That Are Working To Make The Outdoors More Inclusive