Black Bodies & Green Space: From 1619 to Today

3 Credits

Nature-based physical activity, also known as green exercise, involves engaging in physical activity within natural environments like parks, forests, or other green spaces. But, access or a sense of belonging to these spaces has not and still is not equitable. This experiential course will take a historical look as to why that has been the case...From the enslaved African on antebellum plantations, who used the surrounding uncultivated land as a place of deliverance, healing and route to freedom, to the Central Park bird watcher, whose green space presence was perceived as a threat to White physical safety, we will critically examine how systemic racism shaped the experience, connection, and relationship to nature among Black Americans.