While our country is an incredible place filled with opportunities not found in many parts of the world, our history is stained with the shameful acts of people driven by bias and hatred of those that are different than themselves. On May 25th, the appalling murder of George Floyd set into motion a movement that has reawoken not only America but the world to the nefarious scourge of both systemic and endemic racism.
Dr. King famously said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” While significant strides have been made in recent days to shine a light on the darkness, creating lasting change requires each of us to take a hard look at both ourselves and our communities. Real change demands that we confront difficult truths about ourselves, the organizations we manage, and the institutions we build. It is up to each of us to take action and build a world that transcended the vile and corrosive culture of hate through love.
Wasatch Mountain Arts stands with Black Lives Matter, and all BIPOC. Expanding perspectives, educating our audiences, representing the under-represented, and empowering action are written into our mission. Over the past 6 years, we have accomplished this mission by sharing impactful stories captured through art. Whether it be breaking down stereotypes by sharing the story of black inner-city rock climbers in Memphis or featuring films created by incredibly talented and underrepresented black American filmmakers, WMA fights for equal representation in the outdoor community. In the past, we have let the work we share speak for itself, however, the time has come to join the conversation in a more direct way.
It is with great pleasure that I am announcing Wasatch Mountain Arts will be launching a series of curated films highlighting the American black experience in the outdoor community. Coinciding with the films featured we will be hosting discussions highlighting inclusion and diversity in the outdoors.
Over the coming weeks, more details will be announced.
Stuart Derman
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Wasatch Mountain Arts