When I hit the open road, I’m chasing more than just adventure. The canyons echo back stories, the highways hum with possibility, and every trail asks me to dig a little deeper. But my journey comes with a layer you don’t hear about often. I move through these wild spaces as a light-skinned Black man, carrying emotions, challenges, and triumphs that shape how I see the world. This is where the adventure gets real.
Refueling in Unfamiliar Territories
Every road trip starts the same way: the tank hits empty, I pull off at some roadside gas station, and I tell myself it’s just another pit stop. But it rarely feels that simple. Out in the rural pockets of America, demographics shift and so do the vibes. Pulling into a gas station, I can feel the weight of history humming in the background like static.
The air gets thicker, eyes linger a little longer, and suddenly “just pumping gas” turns into something layered with unease. I don’t linger, I don’t make unnecessary eye contact. Not out of paranoia, but out of a deep survival instinct that every Black traveler knows too well. It’s vigilance woven into the fabric of adventure.
The Weight of Unwanted Attention
Dining alone on the road should feel like a break, a chance to savor good food and a quiet moment. Instead, it often feels like I’ve stepped under a spotlight. Stares, whispers, and unspoken questions hang in the air like storm clouds.
Yet even then, I dig into my plate and let the flavors carry me somewhere else. In those moments, I reclaim a little freedom, a reminder that my right to exist unapologetically doesn’t need approval. It’s a small victory, but one worth savoring along with the fries.
Striving for Reassurance, Extending Kindness
My parents raised me with manners stitched into my DNA. “Thank you,” “please,” a nod of respect, they aren’t just habits, they’re part of how I navigate the world. On the road, I find myself leaning into that even more.
Sometimes it feels like I’m overcompensating, trying to reassure strangers that I’m safe, approachable, not a threat. It’s exhausting, but it’s also powerful. A smile, a bit of small talk, a gesture of gratitude. These little acts can crack open doors that prejudice has sealed shut. And honestly, those connections, however brief, are what keep me hopeful.
Defying Stereotypes, Embracing the Trail
Hiking isn’t supposed to look like me, or at least, that’s what society has tried to tell us. For too long, outdoor spaces have been marketed as the playground of one demographic. But here I am, boots laced, pack strapped, breathing in the mountain air and carving space for myself on the trail.
When I hike, I’m not just defying stereotypes, I’m rewriting them. Every step is a reminder that nature belongs to all of us, not just the few who’ve been told it’s theirs. Representation matters, and sometimes it’s as simple as being visible on the path.
Finding Community in Unexpected Places
Funny thing about the wilderness, once you’re out there, surrounded by red rock cliffs in Moab or the vast silence near Page, the divisions of the world seem to fade. Out on those trails, a stranger’s wave feels more like a welcome than a warning.
I’ve met allies where I least expected them. A shared smile on a trail, a quick chat about gear, a simple “safe travels” at a trailhead. The road and the wild have a way of reminding me that unity can thrive where diversity is embraced, not erased.
Living Unapologetically
At the end of the day, adventure isn’t just about crossing landscapes, it’s about crossing barriers, both visible and invisible. It’s about stepping into spaces that weren’t always welcoming and planting my flag anyway.
I live unapologetically because I have to. Because I want to. And because every time I tell my story, maybe it makes the road a little smoother for the next traveler who looks like me.
So if you see me out there, hiking a canyon, sipping coffee in some dusty diner, or topping off at a lonely gas station, know this: I’m not just passing through. I’m building bridges, rewriting stories, and reminding the world that adventure has no single face.
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