"Walking While Black": Impacts of Inequities in Nature Access and Belongingness

As a framework for understanding inequities in nature access andbelongingness among Black Americans, this review examines the historical and public health significance of "Walking While Black." By tracingthe colloquial evolution of "Walking While Black," contemporary experiences within a broader history of racialized surveillance and exclusionare positioned.

Recent research indicates that inequities in nature access extend beyond the physical availability of parks and green spaces to include safety, inclusion, and belongingness. Historical and contemporary forms of racial exclusion have limited outdoor engagement for many Black Americans. These inequities are associated with reduced physical activity, chronic stress, anxiety, hypervigilance, environmental injustice, and diminished opportunities for social connection and community engagement. "Walking While Black" reflects the enduring racialization of mobility and presence in public and natural spaces. The resulting barriers to nature access and belongingness contribute to physical, mental, emotional, and social health disparities among Black Americans. Achieving environmental and health equity requires both expanding access to green spaces and creating environments where Black individuals can safely and freely exist without fear, suspicion, or exclusion.