Reclaiming “White People Stuff"

What even is White People Stuff, anyway? Is it hiking? Drinking craft beer? Naming kids after medieval professions like Thatcher or Chandler? Or is it just anything that Black folks supposedly don’t do in large numbers?

Let’s be real—Black people have always been everywhere, doing everything. We were the original cowboys, pioneers, and explorers. There’s photographic proof of Black skiers from the 1920s, Black surfers in Africa centuries before Europeans even figured out how to stand on a board, and Black mountaineers who have summited Everest. But somewhere along the way, society decided, Nah, that’s not for y’all. And we internalized it.

I say forget that.

Why should I limit myself based on a myth? Why should I let someone else’s perception of Blackness define my experiences? If I wanna ski, surf, go spelunking, or show up to a Renaissance reenactment in full knight armor, I’m gonna do it. If I wanna own a falcon and train it to deliver petty messages like, “And that’s why you’ll always be mid.” consider me a falconer.

Matter of fact, I think I’m about to go do something extremely associated with white people right now. Catch me at a farmers’ market buying organic honey, on a mountain trail with a granola bar, or in a kayak somewhere just because I can.