Grappling With Nature Series No. 2 (Alternate Reality) | Mixed Media Project

It is true, you know. Contrary to popular belief, everything isn't relative. At least this is the information fed to the public when, in fact, the opposite is true.

What is relative is the fact that nature is in our world for a reason.

But what is nature exactly?

We understand that "nature" is a term that encompasses everything that has been created naturally on our planet, including animals, plants, climate, water, atmosphere, and geology that are not made by people. They're independent of humans. The word also means phenomena that aren't influenced by human intervention ^(a). The word comes from the Latin “natura“, which means natural, having innate dispositions, and translates to birth.

Nature is abundant with millions of species. It refers to the physical world and the life within it such as animals and plants. ¹

What is relative is that for decades since the beginning of our country's recognition of the value of nature as a natural resource to be enjoyed by all, certain groups of citizens (especially people of color) were hindered intentionally from participating in their right to enjoy the natural environment.

What is relative is that from the Anglo people in authority's point of view, they have consistently proposed that people of color just aren't interested in the "great outdoors" as nature is called or participating in all it has to offer.

This perspective is bizarre; and it's untrue.

Just as certain groups of individuals attempt to rewrite history to produce more favorable sympathies toward themselves, those sample people have to cover all bases and gloss over certain evidence if the narrative is to be believed and the underlying truth overlooked.

In reality, those individuals hide behind a false narrative and mask. But like any truth, it couldn't and can't be hidden forever. The mask must come off in the light of evidence that can't be refuted.

Evidence of this is provided by the research at NC State’s College of Natural Resources that uncovered that people of color are far less likely to engage in nature-based outdoor recreation activities, with historic discrimination being a large underlying factor. ²

According to Myron Floyd, dean of the College of Natural Resources and lead author of several studies exploring race and ethnicity in parks and outdoor recreation, the lack of diversity and inclusion in outdoor spaces can be traced back to the very beginning of parks, especially to the individuals who created the park system.

Since the inception of the Civilian Conservation Corps and National Park System, throughout history, parks in the United States have been conceptualized, created and managed by Caucasian men who held racist beliefs.

Those men believed that people of color weren't major stakeholders in outdoor recreation or park-related activities; hence they experienced segregation from a multitude of outdoor recreation agencies.

When it came to creating our national parks, John Muir, who is credited with the creation of the National Park System and the conservation movement, was recently rebuffed and taken to task by the Sierra Club for his long history of racism.

Muir, who co-founded the organization in 1892, strongly believed that:

Indigenous people had no right place in the landscape despite the fact that they had lived there for thousands of years. He believed that Indigenous peoples’ villages and their ways of life should be destroyed in order to have “unblighted, unredeemed wilderness.”

Also, according to Floyd, “the underlying rationale for creating parks was the idea of U.S. nationalism, to promote the American identity, and the American identity was primarily Caucasian, male and young. In truth, it was trying to distinguish the American identity from the European identity: being a separate, more mature nation in the mid-19th century.”

Gifford Pinchot, one of another important figures in the conservation movement and the first head of the U.S. Forest Service, held racist beliefs that:

Parks were created for Americans of only Northern European descent.

When young, I remember my parents telling us that they couldn't afford to go on vacations with six children since the cost would be more than they earned for several months. Our family didn't have disposable income. We were relegated to finding activities close to home that were substantially inexpensive.

When locating an affordable place for outdoor activities, in the late 50s and during the 60s, I remember signs posted for separate water fountain facilities: One for BLACKS and one for WHITES ONLY.

It's a fact that participation and attendance at state and national parks, as well as forest areas, tend to be disproportionate between Caucasians and people of color.

Perhaps a feeling of unease that exists at being scrutinized for being in an outdoor space as though they don't belong there. I know the feeling all too well during my lifetime. Stares, frowns, and facial expressions that pierce your resolve sending threatening vibes, some intentional, that ringsloud and clear with the message...you don't belong here.

It's widely believed that people of color don't care about the outdoors or interacting with nature. An even more bizarre attitude and belief is that people of color don't care about the environment.

The stereotypes exist today.

Think about this. If you were excluded or highly discouraged from participating in certain activities, would you continue to bang your head against the wall to be included, or find alternate ways to enjoy yourself? Both have been sought after and accomplished.

However, I believe the decision should be a matter of pure choice instead of exclusion.

According to Jerry Lee, an assistant professor in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management, the history of public park systems and current-day prejudices against people of color are two areas that reinforce each other and prevent higher participation from people of color in outdoor leisure and sports. ²

Lee also stated that “one idea is that if people of color have the same income levels, they will participate in outdoor recreation or visit parks as much as their Caucasian counterparts,” then explains, “but this is an anglo-confirmative bias, meaning that it normalizes Caucasians’ leisure behavior as a benchmark. Existing empirical studies do not support the idea.” ²

For many people of color, especially in the middle class who may have disposal income, they may not chose a nature-based vacation or outing. They may discover other ways to enjoy their free time or engage in indoor activities.

Finally, NC State’s College of Natural Resources firmly believe that the outdoors can become more inclusive once the narrative changes, from emphasizing achievements of people of color in outdoor recreation to having more diverse leadership in outdoor recreation agencies, organizations and advisory boards. ²

Individuals' relationship with nature is complex in some areas. However, it should have been left to the individual to decide whether to embrace nature or reject it.

In my next Grappling With Nature Series, I'll explain some reason why individuals are hesitant to embrace the natural environment.

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Source: 1
Source: 2
(a) Although nature was ultimately affected by human intervention in the forms of pollution and endangerment to its environment.

For this current mixed media project, I'm continuing my Grappling With Nature Series. This project is No. 2 and deals with alternate reality. The theme is meant to portray the concept of believe what is told to society and demanding that they accept it as reality. Those in power attempts to deflect, stating that what one sees happening in real time isn't relative to the underlying state of affairs.

Below are my steps in designing the theme.

I utilized Canva as my design program to blend the different type images. I began with a blank, white canvas; then added layers of elements that includes tools to remove backgrounds, separate images from background or parts thereof, colorize, resize, filter, duplicate, and reposition items as required.

These are the images I included in my theme. I love the facial mask that's cracked.

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Abstract butterfly background ~ Female in blue outfit ~ Scary plaster face ~ Butterfly hybrid ~ Abstract red flower pattern ~ Gull - Contributed to the #LIL by @agmoore

I share with you my completed design:

Thanks for taking the time to view my post. I hope you like my mixed media project for Grappling With Nature Series - No 2.