When folks picture “outdoorsy,” we’re rarely the image. They forget our grandfathers fished with bare hands, our aunties grew whole worlds in the soil, and we’ve been running, climbing, and surviving since before hashtags claimed the wilderness.
But outside belongs to us too — the wild, the water, the wind. So this month, we’re spotlighting five Black outdoor collectives rewriting what “outdoors” means and who gets to claim it.
1. Black Men Run / Black Girls Run
Sport: Ultrarunning & community marathons
Why they matter: Founded to promote health and community through distance running, these sister movements turned “solo sport” into collective therapy. They’re at every major marathon — from Chicago to Cape Town — repping Black endurance and joy.
Find them: blackmenrun.com | blackgirlsrun.com
2. The Compton Cowboys
Sport: Equestrian / Rodeo / Polo crossover
Why they matter: This crew from South Central Los Angeles redefines what it means to be a cowboy — blending hip-hop and heritage, saddle and swagger. Their mantra: “The streets raised us. Horses saved us.”
Find them: thecomptoncowboys.com
3. Soul Archers
Sport: Archery & medieval martial arts
Why they matter: This niche collective brings Black precision and grace to bow culture. Think calm, focus, and reclaimed lineage — archery has African roots older than the word “Europe.”
Find them: @soularchers on Instagram (regional chapters nationwide)
4. Brown Girls Climb
Sport: Rock Climbing & Mountaineering
Why they matter: This collective amplifies women of color in climbing spaces — turning crags into classrooms for courage and community. They’re reshaping what support looks like, one harness at a time.
Find them: browngirlsclimb.com
5. Black Guns Matter & Diaspora Preppers
Sport: Survivalist / Tactical preparedness
Why they matter: These groups bring safety, awareness, and self-reliance to communities too often left out of “prepper” narratives. From firearm education to wilderness first aid, they remind us: liberation also means knowing how to survive anything.
Find them: blackgunsmatter.com | diasporaprepper.com
So, take it outside!
Pack light, breathe deep, and remember — nature never forgot you.