Happy Wednesday! This week I want to talk about something that is super important: inclusivity. Van life is for everyone and its all of our jobs to create safe and welcoming spaces for all. I’ll be speaking from my own perspective, which I’ll admit, is a bit muddled but I hope that you will share your experiences with us to learn from, too!
I call my own experience muddled because that’s often how I feel about my race. I don’t talk about it as often as I should here on the A Bus Named LuLu blog, but I’m mixed race. I’m Indigenous, Hispanic, and white. How people view me is often determined by the people I’m around and the space I’m occupying. White people absolutely look at me and believe me to be white no matter the context. Brown people in brown spaces see me as brown. Most commonly, mixed race people see me as mixed. I’m privileged because I can exist in white spaces safely. I’m disadvantaged because its hard to feel at home in any space unless its also dominantly mixed-race.
To check my privilege, you may see me as any white, cis-gendered woman content creator choosing to live in a van. I know I’ve talked about being neurodivergent, so often enough I forget that I’m not the majority myself. The truth of the matter is, however, is that I’m a brown, disabled woman and we do not represent the majority of van lifers.
So, how do we hold space? How do we practice inclusivity? I’m so glad you asked! Here are some important ways to help create a welcoming space for everyone, regardless of if its in the van, on the trail, or anywhere else.
Say “Hi!”
This is the absolute simplest way you can help someone feel welcome. Acknowledge them and do so positively. If you would normally greet someone who looks like you with a “Hello!” then you should also be greeting someone who doesn’t look like you the same way. My favorites? If I’m hiking (which is usually when I talk to other people) “Isn’t the trail lovely today?” or if I’m passing the opposite way “Was it so worth it?”/”It’s absolutely worth the hike!”
I’m introverted and socially awkward, so when I’m in my own sphere (as in, my own campsite) I’m reluctant to talk to others. I don’t have a good grasp on what might be annoying versus helpful, but really just opening dialogue in a helpful way can bring down barriers. Perhaps something along the line of “that bathroom is so clean!” or “this spot is so beautiful, isn’t it?”
Again, the goal here is to make people feel safe and comfortable. A simple “hello!” can go a long ways in showing others that you see them and you’re happy they are there.
Allow People to Take Up Space
It’s can be hard to see the world from someone else’s perspective but each and every one of us experiences the world differently. We need to honor that. Van living is often about a connection with nature and living a simpler life but with richer experiences. How better of a way to enrich your life than witness the multitude of ways other people enjoy it?
Maybe this is controversial and maybe this is a hot take…but what if we tried to enjoy this earth in ways that both honor ourselves and respect others? Every culture interacts with the world around them differently – clothing, food, living – so it would make sense that we would all behave just a little bit differently. Next time you hear someone jamming out on the trail, take a moment to enjoy the music, too. Or when you’re at camp and you smell some unfamiliar spices, stop and wonder what they might be cooking.
Don’t Assume
We’ve heard the news – black man gets the cops called on him for bird watching, black man gets cops called on him for barbecuing, black women get cops called on them for…hiking… – and the list goes on. Challenging internal racism can be uncomfortable, but you’re here and you’re reading this article, so that’s already progress. I’m here to tell you, its okay to be uncomfortable, but don’t be part of the problem. If you’re thinking of calling the police on someone doing normal things in a place that’s normal to do those things, stop. Think about the real reason you feel uncomfortable. Is it because they look or behave differently than you?
We are all allowed to be in public spaces. Every single one of us. (That’s why its called public.)
Check your privilege
This is difficult and yet its so, so necessary. If you are out existing in the world and you’re expecting someone else do absolutely anything to make your experience more comfortable – check your privilege.
Are you expecting the other person to move to the side of the trail so you can pass? Privilege. Do you expect that everyone knows what all the signage along a trail mean? Privilege. If you’re expecting a BIPOC to accommodate you in any way at all, you’re acting from a place of privilege that is not necessary. Be kind, be helpful, and honestly, if you’re truly being polite, you wouldn’t struggle with moving to the side to allow someone else to pass.
If you found this article enjoyable, helpful, encouraging, intriguing, or positive in any way, I also want to point you to another article from Melanin Base Camp that really helped me broach the subject. The author, Danielle Williams, does a really great job of explaining inclusion from her perspective! If you’re BIPOC it looks like they have some great resources on enjoying the outdoors and if you’re not, they have some good resources to build a better community with others.
Like I mentioned at the top, I’d love to hear your strategies, your perspectives, and even what makes you feel included! Remember: Inclusivity matters.
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