For many, the word outdoors means a group of white men hiking, rock climbing, or braving white rapids in a kayak. In fact, in order to find a group of black women doing the same thing, you have to search specifically for “Black women outdoors”. Toyin Ajayi realized that there were many black women have been under the impression that the outdoors isn’t for black and brown women, and has created a still growing community that welcomes both beginners and veterans alike. She has also recognized that when it comes to advertising, there are little to no black women represented, which contributes to the idea that being outdoors is “white”. Outdoorsy Black Women encompasses all things outdoors: hiking, gardening, hunting, biking, etc.
You can check out all the cool things happening at outdoorsyblackwomen.com.
We had a chance to chat with Toyin about her own love of the outdoors, myths about women of color and outdoor events, and what she has in store for the future.
What inspired your love of the outdoors?
I’ve always had a love of the outdoors since I was a little girl. My aunt used to have a huge backyard with a garden when I was younger and I would go back there and spend hours just enjoying the plants and trying to save several animals. My family always thought I would be a veterinarian because of my love of animals and nature. After living in the city for most of my adult life, I realized I was craving that connection with the outdoors again – that’s what inspired me to eventually buy an RV.
What is the biggest misconception behind women of color participating in/ loving outdoor events?
The biggest misconception is that we don’t want to do it or that we aren’t already out here doing it. There are so many awesome groups of Black women and women of color exploring and enjoying the outdoors. Whether it’s hiking, camping, fishing or just gardening, we’re out here. Because people don’t think we enjoy these things, we’re often overlooked in terms of outdoorsy representation.
Can you give us a little more information about Outdoorsy Black Women? What is the goal? How do you continue to foster a sense of community among women of color who love being outdoors?
As I mentioned earlier, Black Women tend to be left out in the outdoor space and community. I remembered finding out about van life years ago and not being able to see many people or women that look like me. While there are slowly more Black faces emerging in the nomadic community, we are still very underrepresented in the outdoor world. As I started to look for a sense of community, i didn’t find a lot of options for Black women that enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities to connect. So that’s what I decided to create. The goal of Outdoorsy Black Women is to connect, inspire and celebrate Black women that are doing all kinds of amazing outdoorsy things. It’s also to change the perspective of what it means to be outdoorsy for us. I want Black women to recognize that if you’re a hiker, gardener, surfer, beach goer, etc., you’re outdoorsy and there are other women that you can connect with and do these dope things together with.
Are there any plans for the organization in the future?
Whew so many awesome plans, but the first is getting the app live for iOS and Android users. I would love to plan events eventually for the community and with different groups within the community, but with Covid, I’ve been playing it by ear. I’m also hoping to do some fun things with Clubhouse and eventually get our community book club off the ground. Last but not least, I’m a fan of giving back so I would love to partner with brands on some giveaways.
What do you want Black and Brown women who may want to venture into nature to know about the benefits of being outdoors?
I think connecting with the outdoors in some type of way helps alleviate stress, resets your body’s internal clock and last but not least, my SKIN looks amazing. I’d say the biggest thing to remember is that you get to choose how you want to live your outdoorsy lifestyle. For some, cabins or beaches are the way to go, others prefer RVs or glamping… just do what works best for you and go from there. At the end of the day, Outdoorsy Black Women hopes to be the hub for helping all of us find our outdoorsy tribe.
Candace Green is a Birmingham, Alabama transplant by way of Washington DC. She enjoys reading, writing, cooking and eating amazing food, and Marvel movies. She is an author and blogger. You can follow her on IG: c_dog93
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