It’s that time of year: Black Birders Week will soon be upon us and I’m happier than a hummingbird sipping nectar. Those of you who read my column regularly know I find joy in birding wherever I am. I am one of the millions of people who discovered the bliss of birding during lockdown in 2020 and I have never looked back. I have introduced my friends to the wonders of hearing the various songs and calls of birds, whether people are stuck in their offices in crowded cities, on the beach in the Caribbean, or taking a hike in the woods.
This year, from May 26 through June 1, folks can celebrate Black Birders Week, which was created in 2020 by the BlackAFinSTEM Collective to “celebrate and highlight Black birders, scientists, naturalists, and outdoor enthusiasts who deserve to enjoy their time in nature without fear of harassment.” Some of you may remember the harrowing event of a white woman accusing a Black man, Christian Cooper, who was innocently bird-watching in Central Park. She called the police, said she was threatened by him, and he caused her dog to yelp as she created a false sense of danger. That racist incident was just one of the many Black people have had to digest and process in the past few years.
This year’s theme for Black Birders Week is “Wings of Justice: Soaring for Change,” emphasizing environmental justice and community healing. The itinerary includes everything from sunset hikes to meditation to “birds and brews” events. The activities are for those who love birding, whether new or old to birding, to come together in community and be in the bounty of nature.
According to the BlackAFInStem website, “The event week and The BlackAFinSTEM Collective itself was created by a small group of friends and acquaintances to normalize the historically overlooked presence of Black birders, scientists, and nature enthusiasts in the field (literally and figuratively) to make the natural sciences more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to people of all walks of life. The Collective also aims to inspire new audiences to engage in nature and share the stories of Black conservationists from across the globe. The BlackAFInSTEM Collective seeks to support, uplift, and amplify Black Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics professionals in natural resources and the environment through professional development, career connection, and community engagement.”
This mission is key. Helping Black people find community, commune with nature, and learn about our natural environment is a gift that keeps giving.
I am so thankful I discovered the joys of birding and I hope others will find the beauty and peace in it as well. To find out more online, go to www.blackafinstem.com or www.nycaudubon.org, or follow #BBW2024 on social media.
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University; author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream”; and co-host of the podcast FAQ-NYC and host of The Blackest Questions podcast at TheGrio; and a 2023–24 Moynihan Public Scholars Fellow at CCNY.