Encourage greater diversity in outdoor and wilderness spaces through interviews with 20 African Americans who have strong connections to nature. During his travels around the country as a wildlife photographer, Dudley Edmondson made a concerning observation: He was often the only person of color in many of the wilderness locations he visited. He began asking himself some important questions: “Why am I not seeing many people of color in the parks?” - “Where are the voices of African Americans when it comes to decisions about wild spaces?” - “Shouldn’t everyone care about the involvement of all Americans in these issues?” The matter was far too important to let go. Instead, Dudley turned it into a project, seeking out African Americans who thrive in the outdoors and asking them about their experiences, passions, and hopes for the future. He spoke with policymakers, park rangers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, educators, and others with nature-centered careers. The result is the groundbreaking book Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places. In these interviews, Dudley explores what first drew each individual to the outdoors, how they became involved with nature, why they value those experiences, and why they believe people of color are underrepresented in this country’s natural landscape. The conversations connect personal stories to broader issues such as social justice, racial prejudice, personal safety, economics, and cultural traditions. “I am honored to share the voices of these insightful individuals and let them explain how these subjects intersect in complex and deeply personal ways,” says Dudley. This 20th Anniversary Edition of Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places features 20 powerful personal narratives from across the United States, told by African Americans with deep ties to the natural world. Each account blends American history with lived experience, offering an intimate look into the life of a unique individual. The portraits are insightful, revealing, and entertaining. They provide a foundation for discussion about the future of our wild places and hopefully encourage people of color to take up the torch of conservation and carry it forward on behalf of all future generations of Americans. Dudley Edmondson has worked for more than 30 years as a photographer, capturing nature and wildlife subjects around the country for natural history publications in the US and Europe. Dudley proudly carries on a family tradition started by his great-grandfather Monteith Vance, a portrait photographer issued a photography license by the state of North Carolina in 1919. Dudley began work on Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places in an attempt to find other African Americans around the nation who shared his love for nature and the outdoors. He found several, many of whom he now considers friends. Not until 2005 had he ever been on an outdoor adventure entirely in the company of African Americans; it was a life-affirming experience that he will never forget. “Nature, without question, is for everyone. It knows no race, creed, or gender and is cheaper than any therapist you could ever hire.” Cheryl Armstrong President and CEO, James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club Denver, Colorado The James P. Beckwourth Mountain Club was named after a famous biracial African American, James Pierson Beckwourth. He was a true legend of the West. He was born in 1798 in Fredericksburg County, Virginia, to a white plantation owner and one of his African American female slaves. They moved to Missouri when Jim was about six years old because they wanted to stay together, and it was easier to do that there than it was in Virginia. Beckwourth was raised in Missouri. He was taught to read, as were all of his siblings. He was apprenticed to a blacksmith so he would have a trade. Around 23 years of age, he was fortunate enough to meet General William Ashley, who founded the Rocky Mountain Fur Trading Company. Beckwourth joined the company as a hunter, and over his long fascinating life, he was, among other things, a frontiersman and an exceptional explorer. In 1850, he discovered a pass over the Sierra Nevada Mountains that would lead pioneers into the Sacramento Valley of California. He also saved the life of General Zachary Taylor, who later became President of the United States. Beckwourth was also war chief of the Crow Indian nation. He was adopted into the tribe, and he pretty much lived with the Crow for many years. He spoke a multitude of Native American dialects and was fluent in English, Spanish, and French. He was also one of the co-founders of the city of Pueblo, Colorado. Our organization named itself in honor of Jim Beckwourth because of his contributions to the West and also because he was a real trailblazer and adventurous guy. We like to think that we honor some of that spirit of adventure and his legacy in our organization. Childhood Experiences and Turning Points in Nature I was born in Detroit, Michigan