Apparently, those darn prepper magazines are a hotbed of coded racial injustices. I am especially WTF’ed by this jewel:
Because, apparently, in this womyn’s world, having gear that you worked hard to acquire is privilege. As if someone just dropped a gold Cabela’s card in your lap and said ‘go forth and prep’. But, this chick is no doubt of the mindset that whenever you have more than her (or people who look like her, have the same plumbing as her, or the same economic mobility as her) that is an ‘injustice’ or ‘inequality’.
There’s actually a much more sinister implication here. This womyn, who is ‘of color’, seems to imply that the ‘prepper culture’ caters mostly to white males. If thats the case, and there is indeed a lack of ‘preppers of color’, is that an indictment of a publishing and marketing industry that is racist or does it show that the notion of self-reliance, taking care of ones self, being responsible for your own well-being, and independence from government support is a mindset not supported by the ‘of color’ community. Or, to put it in a very racially charged, but much simpler context, are white people more inclined to resist being in a state of dependency on others and .gov than non-whites? Now that’s a tack the writer should have taken. Rather than ask ‘why is the demographic for this magazine mostly white males’ perhaps she should be asking ‘why aren’t more non-whites interested in this’.
From a devils advocate point of view, I suppose you could make the argument that in our society the ‘marginalized’ segments (the people of color, the ‘econmically unprivileged’, etc.) simply cannot afford to spare the money, time, and other resources since they are already at a deficit on those resources compared to the white population. Or, put another way, if most other racial and ethnic groups are earning less, then they have less time and effort to put towards this sort of thing…they’re too busy just trying to catch up.
Honestly, I know absolutely zero non-white survivalists. In fact, from a strict racial standpoint, I’m the only one I know (I’m 50% ‘other’ ingredients.) But part of that, no doubt, is because I wound up living in a place where the population tends to be rather homogenous. Still, as I diddybop across the blogosphere I find very few survivalist or prepper blogs that aren’t being done by someone not ‘of color’. Oh, there are some exceptions…the ones I have found tend to be less about survivalism and more about ‘urban homesteading’, ‘organic gardening‘, and that sort of thing, which does kinda come into the preparedness Venn diagram. In fact, the only black person I’ve ever even read about who comes close is this fellow. (And I had to dig back over seven years to even find that.) Wiki.
As a commenter to the article said, the outrage the author shows about the overwhelming white maleness of the prepper magazines must be how he feels when he flips through Jet and notes a decided lack of not-of-color people. Face it, some things target a niche or demographic that tends to be very homogenous. And there’s nothing wrong with that if that homogenous nature is due to a simple lack of interest from others and not a result of exclusionary policy.
I’ve met dozens of people over the years who are into preparedness in some form or another…some religious, some not. Some male, some female, Some gay, most straight. Most rightist, some leftist. Most race-indifferent, some rather race-conscious. But everyone across the board was some shade of white person.
Do I think that the prepper magazines out there are full of images of white people and absolutely vacant of positive images of non-white people? Somewhat, yes. Do I think it’s because of a racist mindset? Uh, no..I think it’s because when you’re trying to sell magazines you sell to the market you think exists for that magazine.
As an interesting project, if anyone can find me some preparedness-themed blogs that are run by ‘people of color’, I’d like the links so I can go check ’em out.
I’m trying to think of what to add, in terms of my own thoughts, to what you’ve written here. As of right now, I’m coming up short.
I expect this post you’ve just written will be passed around and shared extensively. I hope it will generate the right kind of discussion, because that discussion is much needed.
What you said, you said it very well. Thanks.
BTW: I happen to be a subscriber of the magazine in question. It’s also available at most bookstores and news stands (inc. Barnes and Noble). For those who are of the self-reliance mindset, it is a very good read.
I don’t agree with their politics I do see them trying to be helpful and encouraging black people to get prepped.
While I am a “black urban liberal,” that isn’t may sole target audience. My target audience is anyone who has an interest in prepping, but may not have the resources (i.e. money, storage space, etc.) that those who typically prep have. Blacks, urbanites and liberals are three groups that are underserved and under represented in the preparedness community and are less likely to be preppers. Hopefully that will change and being prepared when SHTF will transcend race, geographic location and political party affiliation.
http://www.blackprepper.com/
Welcome To The Black Prepper Network!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvuHf96uWcI
Nice to meetcha!
Not to be rude, or thought of as a racist. There is a question I would love to ask, why are you a Dem? since the dem party held the power in the south until the 60’s and were ones that held tight to segragration until forced to give it up. What have they(the Dems) done for you? I’m not trying to pick a fight of Dem Vs. Rep because I’m not of either party, they are both dragging us down the rabbit hole. I just don’t get it. Both parties get their power by making us dependant on them for our survival. we as a people of any race should not be beholding to any man or party.
Some would argue that the Black Power organizations should count as preparedness groups. Many of them espouse ‘preparing for a future fight’.
Preparedness is preparedness.
I agree with your opinion on the author’s view of the preparedness crowd. In her view, only the person who has resources can buy extras. I’m betting she is from an urban setting – most people raised in the rurals have the ‘put back just in case’ practices ingrained in their life.
Thats an interesting notion, but if true then it would suggest that ‘White Power’ organizations such as the Klan, Stormfront, Aryan Nations, etc, would fall under that ‘preparedness group’ umbrella as well.
Prepping is prepping. Politics is a different issue and it’s certainly reasonable to disagree with the REASON for prepping or the WHAT the prepping is for. 😀
Demcad is one of the few black preppers – https://www.youtube.com/user/DEMCAD
Then again, on the internet, what does background or colour matter? On the swedish survivalist forum i have been quite surprised from time to time when someone have told their story or showed themselves (or part of themselves) in a picture.
To some people, those sorts of things matter. :::shrug::: But then again, when you get into the preparedness forums you see that there are folks that are very particular about who hey allow into their wordl…the most prevalent barrier to entry that I’ve seen is religion and politics. If you’re not on the same page with your religion or politics, alot of groups and forums don’t want you there. (lookin’ at you, Cheap Tree Rats).
I dug her last sentence “we can buy all the toys we want, but the real threat of collapse is in the darkness of human nature.” She did a pretty good job taking down some of the more ridiculous elements of prepping as well.
Urban homesteading, parts of DIY culture, and parts of urban cycling scene are the political left’s version of prepping. The stimulus to act is largely the same, the action is different.
CZ, it’s not just the “prepper movement” where you can see this sort of thing.
I subscribe to “Mother Earth News” and notice a lack of “people of colour” farming or homesteading yet I know first hand they are out there, I meet ’em on the rounds with the ambulance.
I blame the advertising dollars, same with that flashy “Off-Grid” mag. Most of the “reviews” of gear seemed to be lengthy advertisements with very little real world useage or criticism of the product being reviewed. I read one or two and they came across, to me, as an off-shoot of some other mag just trying to jump on the current “zombie apocalypse” bandwagon. What is the target demographic with the most expendable income that is likely to impulse buy a mag with manly-man gear and questions (like the “scenario” in the article)? “I can read this and be just like Les Stroud!” Someone in marketing sees a opening in an expanding market and pitches a flashy, glossy mag with action photos. I understand the article author’s frustration that there is no material for her demographic… but if there is no profit in it, publishers won’t put it out there.
You want a real off-grid mag? Find a copy of “The Backwoodsman”. https://backwoodsmanmag.com
But you won’t find in on the mag rack in cities as it is much like a “guest submission” blog in magazine form written by people who are already out there and doing that with language, politics and humour to match.
Of course, there are is another take. Read every bloody thing you can get your hands on, ignore the politics/gender bent/racial tone and find ideas or techniques to improve your skill set or knowledge of prep/homestead/survival topics.
As always, YMMV.
Have to do a +1 on “The Backwoodsman”. Always a pleasure to read and learn something.
I know preppers that are “people of color”. They have gardens, hunt, fish, raise farm animals for meat and eggs, own many guns, practice canning and/or freeze foods, sew, etc. This has been so for generations. They can and do survive with very little help from any one but themselves. They live as my grandparents and parents did. They do not define themselves as Preppers. This is LIFE for them. Of course, I live in the Deep South and most people I know live this way. This “womyn” should come visit. Maybe learn a thing or two.