Afro-American attendance at our national parks is very minimal.And for many blacks visiting those national parks,especially those in the West,is viewed as an activity mostly for whites.Finding the reasons as to the absence of blacks have led to multiple speculations such as remembrances of slavery and general disinterestedness. But I do have a take that differentiates the origin of the collective unconsciousness of the Eurocentric mindset,the Afrocentric mindset,and the Coppercentric (of the indigenous people of the Americas) mindset.Personally I believe in the ifea of a "collective unconscious"-where the history of our racial past is embedded in our genes. Archaeology would support the idea that early Europeans lived in caves,were surrounded by mountains,rocks and all types of geologic formations.So it is not surprising that landscapes impinging on the Eurocentric visual system would create some kind of appetitive drive for mountain activities such as skiing,moumtain climbing or looking at mountains. The collective unconscious of African-Americans contains trace elements of a more tropical flora fauna environmental past existence and collective community survival strategies with nature's rhythmicity.The type of activities people enjoy has some connection with the geologic history of our racial past. I have observed that white cheerleaders seem to do all types of flips and flops.Black cherleaders do not seem to go for being hurled in the air. For the Germans it is beer barrel polka,but the community spirit is felt when blacks invented the electric and cha cha slide.In Appalachia,the red neck olympics fits right in. It should be noted that conditioning can bring about changes for blacks to enjoy going to visit the Grand canyon and other national parks. Remember when golf and tennis were viewed as white activities? And the NFL quarterback was always white? NASCAR still appears to be for the 'good ole boys'.Churchill downs use to have black jockeys,but have been replaced by coppercentric riders.
Michael Sylvester,PhD Daytona Beach,Florida --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly (bsouthe...@frostburg.edu)
