Black in National Parks: How Black People & POC Are Underrepresented in the Outdoors

Nature should be for everyone to enjoy and explore, but it has historically not been — and is still not — inclusive to all. Here are some eye-opening statistics showing that lack of diversity: The National Park Service employs nearly 20,000, and of that, just 7% of full-time, permanent employees are Black. The issue is even more apparent in visitorship.  At the National Parks, just 2% of visitors are Black. This is for a group that comprises 13.4% of the entire U.S. Population.

The 21st was joined by the organizer of Black in National Parks Week and the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Administrator for the Illinois Environmental Council to hear more about Black people and people of color are underrepresented in the outdoor industry. 

Guests:

Nicole Jackson, Organizer of Black in National Parks Week, Co-organizer of #BlackBirdersWeek, and Next Generation Advisory Council member of the National Parks Conservation Association 

Tonyisha Harris, Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition Administrator for the Illinois Environmental Council

Prepared for web by Zainab Qureshi

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