Hiking: The Unsung Workout Delivering Major Health Wins

In recent years, a powerful movement has emerged to bridge this "nature gap" and reconnect Black Americans with the outdoors, promoting hiking as a vital activity for both physical and mental well-being. This movement is gaining traction through various initiatives and individuals.

One such initiative is the web series "Hiking with Rappers," launched by Complex in October 2021. The series featured comedian and actor King Keraun, who joined prominent artists like Rick Ross, Lil' Kim, and Quavo on short hikes in locations such as Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles. The show aimed to create a vulnerable and open conversational space, demonstrating how the simple act of hiking could lead to honest self-reflection and candid discussions. Keraun, a former football player, noted, "Most of the time, you see rappers in music videos, sitting there with the best car or with the best scenery. Everything is glitz and glamour. But then you see them sweat and push through and get something done while having a conversation." Lil' Kim, during her hike, reportedly exclaimed, "Second leg? Imma need a third leg for that. Oh, hell no—I am not going up that hill," later deadpanning, "The only hill I respect is Lauryn Hill."

Organizations like Outdoor Afro, founded by Rue Mapp, have been instrumental in this effort. What began as a blog seven years prior to August 2016, grew into a nonprofit with chapters in 30 states. Outdoor Afro organizes "healing hikes" nationwide, in diverse locations from a riverside outside Atlanta to urban Baltimore parks. These hikes were specifically designed to provide Black Americans with a space to "talk and meditate over a summer of violence — and take respite from it" following high-profile incidents. Mapp articulated the group's philosophy, stating, "When there is gun violence, when we are traumatized, we go to nature." She emphasized the inclusive nature of the group, explaining, "When you're at work, in the office, you have to leave so many pieces of you at the door. When you're outdoors in nature, you can bring all of your parts. We're parents, we're LGBT people, we're biologists, we're lawyers, we're Christians. We take everyone." By August 2016, an impressive 16,000 people had participated in Outdoor Afro hikes.

Other groups, such as Black People Who Hike (BPWH), are also working to reconnect African Americans with natural spaces through various recreational activities. Carolyn Hartfield, a certified health coach, adventure leader, and tai chi instructor, shared her own transformative experience from her first hike on Blood Mountain in Georgia in 2004. "Being in nature gives me clarity of mind. It just made me feel so happy and good," she reported. Her advice to new hikers is practical: "Hiking and walking are the same; just make sure you have support for ankles and feet."

The importance of hiking for Black men, in particular, has also been highlighted. A May 2024 article on Melanin Base Camp, authored by Shi-Lynn Campbell, addressed the "nature gap" and the lack of access to green spaces in many urban Black communities. The piece advocated for hiking as a way to connect with nature and improve mental health. Campbell, who lost 50 pounds hiking during the pandemic, acknowledged the historical context, stating, "I know remote forests of the Jim Crow South were more likely to host lynchings than Black campers. These aren't isolated historical events–they are a living history that has created generations of Black men who lack access to and awareness of the outdoors." Despite these risks, the article argues, "However, we deserve to be outdoors. Hiking is a great way for us to experience nature and return to our native roots." Justin Tucker, a 30-year-old thru-hiker from Baltimore currently undertaking an Appalachian Trail thru-hike, also advocates for outdoor inclusion, reportedly motivated by his personal experiences and his family's fears about encountering certain types of people in outdoor spaces.

The growing recognition of hiking as an accessible and powerful tool for holistic well-being, coupled with the dedicated efforts of community leaders and organizations, marks a significant moment. It’s a reclaiming of space, a pursuit of health, and a reconnection with nature that offers profound benefits for physical and mental health within the Black community.