It’s true. I read it in the paper. Of course, the kneejerk reaction is to say huffily, “Well, that’s just a stupid generalisation!” Which it is, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. I say this as someone who actively enjoys camping, loves to go hiking, and will traipse quite merrily around an old property for hours.
I’ve camped in the south of England, in Devon, and in the US – Yosemite, Big Basin, Santa Cruz, Wisconsin. I can build a fire (very, very slowly) with kindling and if required, no matches (top tip: wrap them in plastic in case it rains so that this never happens to you). I have made s’mores and toast over an open flame, and I have sung along to crappy camp songs accompanied by guitar and ukelele. Come August, I will be camping again, this time in south-east France. But I am the only one of my black friends to have done this; at least of my own volition.
We – i.e. the royal Black ‘We’ - DO NOT CAMP. Or swim. Or hike. Or you know, visit National Trust properties. Why ever not?
Q: Who lives in a tent like this? A: Probably not a black person.
The author of the Guardian piece, Homa Khaleeli, expands. There is no culture of camping among immigrant communities. This is so true. My parents never experienced camping as a ‘treat’. Camping – that is, having to sleep outdoors – very much meant a misfortune of some sort had befallen a person. I remember my mother asking, genuinely bewildered, “How can sleeping outside, when it’s raining, be a holiday?” I don’t know, Ma. I DON’T KNOW.
Of course there are other issues, too. Homa identifies a fear of racism among her respondents as a key factor for our lukewarm feelings for the countryside. I can definitely relate. I’m not saying everyone in rural Britain is racist, but I am saying that I have been uncomfortable with the level of interest I’ve attracted. I am often the lone black face in my camping party, and I concur with what Amal says in the article: “… I would still prefer to have someone white camping with me.” Well said, Amal. Now come closer so we can exchange a secret black handshake…
Still, things are changing slowly. We are, like a collective of baby Bambis, taking our first tentative steps into a new world. Perhaps we’ll like what we see. Then again, perhaps a hunter will shoot our… You know what? Forget that analogy.
*If you had to look up what a Supermalt is, you’ve proven my point. One time, I saw a white dude drinking a Supermalt. It was like… like… seeing a unicorn.
21 Comments
Um. I’ve had Supermalt. I don’t think I have a giant horn coming out of my horsey-forehead. But you know me, I like to defy stereotypes. *puts on Kylie*
Um. I camp. WE CANCEL EACH OTHER OUT, JAMES. This way, there’s minimal disturbance in the Force. *Puts on Tupac*
I’m dead at you saying it was like seeing a unicorn. Whew! *wipes tears*
I’m mixed race – so I drink Supermalt while camping. Oh yeah.
I’m a walking cliché. As a middle-class, liberal, pale-skinned woman, it honestly pains me that I am so perfectly as expected. I adore camping, will happily pee in the woods, and pull out my ukulele for a sing-along at the drop of a hat. Do I know what Supermalt is? No. Do I, on occasion, ask to touch my black friends’ hair? Yes. Do I like to ask myself tortured rhetorical questions? You betcha.
Sometimes I wonder whether conformity to the norm is, in its own weird, subversive way, an attempt at non-conformity. Sometimes I wonder if I’m just kidding myself.
Despite being a white middle class girl, I can think of few things I enjoy less than camping. I’m absolutely with your mother on not finding sleeping on the ground and washing in a bucket much of a holiday. I’d rather never go on holiday again in my life than pee in the woods…I find people who share this sentiment to simply be ‘normal’…
I’m not a huge fan of Supermalt either, but only because I almost never drink full sugar drinks and even the Light is too sweet for me. But I do quite like chocolate Nurishment, especially when it’s making a Guinness Punch. Maybe they’ll let me keep my Brixton dwellers’ card?
@Bangs – Seriously. We were at a Nigerian party and this dude’s just swigging like it ain’t no thang. We stood there, all agog…
*Calls into back office* “How do white people know about this shiz? Was it Andre who told?”
@Ophelia_was – You wily fox! See how you subvert the natural order. You’ll have the Black Council on you at this rate…
@Adriana – Oh, bless you. I will arrange a date for you and I to go eat some Nigerian food, drnk some supermalt and maybe even go dancing to Afrobeat music. And no, I don’t mean Vampire Weekend (much as I love them). Also, I will have my hair done that very day. Just for you to touch.
@Nikky – Chocolate Nurishment? See, now you’re just showing off.
There was an incredibly offensive article in the Spectator a few years ago about Natural England’s (attempt at) engagement with Black and Asian people in the UK, but I can’t find it (although I do need a shower having looked for it). I did find this great article about it by Sathnam Sanghera however: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/times-article_tcm6-12540.pdf
Adriana, I don’t think most people who conform are actually non-conformists, I think most people who conform don’t even realise they are making choices. They think their lives are ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ and only actions or opinions which differ, need to be labelled ‘choices’. Plunk ‘hegemonic discourse’ into Google Scholar for further elucidation. //serious academic face
@Nikky if you like chocolate Nurishment, you’re in! I can’t abide Nurishment (of any flavour) so I’m going to have to rely on liking SuperMalt (preferably straight from the bottle- ’cause that’s just how I roll) as justification for being allowed to keep my Brixton Visitors’ pass when filling in the form
. Phew! *Damn bureaucracy*
@YGDancing I’ve always had my suspicions about Andre… just sayin’
The only people I know who drink Supermalt are a bunch of white, middle class junkies who I used to be friends with when I was younger. Incidentally they also really, really, really, like Nourishment. In fact they like/liked Nourishment and Supermalt so much that the smell of either simultaneously makes me feel nauseous and brings up strange memories of my party girl hey day.
I hate camping with a passion you can only dream of! The last time I had to stay in a tent I managed one night before threatening to take the first train home if someone didn’t get me booked into a youth hostel (and this was in Belgium so it would have been a long train ride and the weather was perfectly lovely!!!)
I think Scandinavian people drink Supermalt but much as I am a Scandophile, the Supermalt is not for me!
Wait – I don’t camp. And I’m so freaking white my legs have been used to blind would-be attackers. Which means you and I cancel other out. But if you and James already cancel each other out…. My god, the repercussions could be awful. Like, if the three of us were in the same room at the same time…kablooey. Hello black hole-universe implosion-ripping apart of space time and reality. Ya know?
@Elly – That’s a great article. Do you follow him on Twitter? He’s ace – (his handle is @Sathnam)
@A – As I’m sure you’ll recall from the Black AGM, I put my unease about Andre on the agenda. No one wanted to address my concerns. Now look…
@Vanessa – The smell and taste of Nurishment is VILE. I cannot imagine why anyone drinks it. Supermalt on the other hand, makes me nostalgic for my youth…
@Katie – Supermalt is big in Scandinavia? How has this nugget slipped past me? THIS IS HUGE.
@MamaS – You are NEVER to be present in the same room as me and James. Unless you bring along a black friend to cancel you out. But then it becomes a different kind of party… WAIT. Seriously, don’t do it. And never google ‘Google’. Just trust me on that one. *Scientist Face*
Stumbled upon this fine piece via Jeremy’s FB page… Never mind Supermalt, it’s all about Malta in my book. Or Amstel Malt at a push. Preferably lukewarm and drunk through a straw. A fine hangover cure and/or meal replacement (especially when one is unceremoniously plonked at the high table of a neverending burial as the token oyibo!)… Oh, and FYI, there’s a whole network of pale-faced malt drinkers across West Africa: VSO volunteers.
Dear YG, I enjoy camping (although its been a while) and I HATE, I repeat HATE Supermalt, Malta or any other kind of Malt drink. Sorry but I guess the whole supermalt thing just passed me by.
White Irish
Camping: No
Supermalt: Hellyeah
Although its really only to keep my addiction to the beautiful dragonstout at bay (damn tiny bottles)
I love camping (I am black) and my roommate (who is white) loves any type of malt liquor. Or really any type of alcohol . . . she doesn’t discriminate in that way.
I totally relate to the love of Guinness and/or Dragon Stout having a connection to the enjoyment of Super Malt.
I’m half Colombian and we love it too, it’s a South American & Caribbean thing I suppose.
Camping as a kid was fun when I was in cubs but camping at a festival is better as well as being worse!!
Hi,
I’m African American, living in Southern California; I just got “followed” by SuperMalt on Twitter. Never heard of it; had to Google it to find out what it was. This post came up on the first page of search.
…And, I camp. Do I have one horn, or two? A BiCorn?
Bullshit. I’m white and Supermalt is probably one of the best tasting drinks i’ve ever had. Once you’ve some it’s is almost impossible not to have another.
i’m black, go camping and don’t drink supermalt…
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