Been Outside

This was a stunning compilation of stories and experiences that really opened my eyes on many different levels! Hearing from so many different voices and perspectives, all of which centered on the topic of nature and people's existence in it, really made for a beautifully narrated collection. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to gain more knowledge of the earth and our fellow humans who live on it!

To start off... I just want to self-disclose that I am a white, queer, generally femme-presenting person (she/they) with a background in STEM academia reviewing this.

This collection of essays/poems was a very insightful look into the lives of Black, queer people with a love of the outdoors. I came into it already familiar with some of the concepts around the "Nature Gap" and have my own experiences navigating the world of academia as a femme queer; but the additional intersectionality of race, specifically being Black, reminded me just how critical this issue is. So many people view nature as an "amenity," when in reality it is a necessity.

The stories of the Black community coming together into activism groups such as Minorities in Shark Science (MISS) and the Black Arts Retreat, or just general interest groups for Black, queer snowboarders or the Twirling Tech Goddess Youtube series are incredible to read about.

As a white person, I also very much appreciated the chapter on how to be a good ally, especially as it was put in the context of the specific microaggressions Black people face in academia.

Overall a really enlightening read.

I loved hearing first-hand accounts of so many incredibly varied experiences in the outdoors! It was very eye-opening to hear these stories from perspectives other than my own cultural identity.

Great title! I found myself deep in the stories of the authors. As a white-passing woman of color, I never felt like I belong anywhere, except nature, so I found myself able to connect at that level.