Author Bio: Over the past 32 years, Dudley Edmondson has become an established photographer, author, filmmaker, and presenter. His photography has been featured in galleries and publications around the world, most recently in Australia and Italy. As a young man, Dudley Edmondson discovered the power of nature and its ability to heal both the mind and body. This led Mr. Edmondson on a lifelong path to follow his passion and instill his love and knowledge of the outdoors in others and inspire a personal understanding and respect for everything nature offers. Mr. Edmondson has collaborated with numerous communities across the county to help urban youth and youth of color to experience nature and the beauty of the outdoors.Encourage greater diversity in outdoor and wilderness spaces through interviews with 20 African Americans who have strong connections to nature.
During his travels around the country as a wildlife photographer, Dudley Edmondson made a concerning observation: he was the only person of color in many of the wilderness locations he visited. He began asking himself some important questions:
- “Why am I not seeing many people of color in the parks?”
- “Where are the voices of African Americans when it comes to decisions about wild spaces?”
- “Shouldn’t everyone care about the involvement of all Americans in these issues?”
The matter was far too important to let go. Instead, Dudley turned it into a project, seeking out people of color who thrive in the outdoors and asking them about their experiences, passions, and hopes for the future. He spoke with policymakers, park rangers, outdoor sports enthusiasts, educators, and others with nature-centered careers. The result is the the groundbreaking book Black & Brown Faces in America’s Wild Places.
In these interviews, Dudley explores what first drew each individual to the outdoors, how they became involved with nature, why they value those experiences, and why they believe people of color are underrepresented in this country’s natural landscape. The conversations connect personal stories to broader issues such as social justice, racial prejudice, personal safety, economics, and cultural traditions.
“I am honored to let the insightful individuals that I interviewed during the course of writing this book explain how all of these subjects come together in this complex social problem,” says Dudley.
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