Conversations can go many places when you’re waiting for a bear. Visual storyteller Terrance Jackson, growing bored, asked his colleagues one day if anyone knew of a professional African American wildlife photographer. Sadly, no names came to mind. There was no role model for him to learn from, but that wasn’t going to stop TJ from blazing a path himself as wildlife photographer. Today, TJ is a visual storyteller and nature advocate, as well as a national park employee. More than that, he’s a young leader with a unique perspective on society’s relationship with nature and the role storytelling can play in breaking down barriers, cultivating advocates, and creating an economy for communities that might not otherwise support conservation.
TJ joined us by Skype from Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State to discuss the barriers many face to loving nature, but also why loving nature to death is a very real concern.
What do you think?
- Are we failing to understand our impacts as storytellers on the subjects we love or want to help?
- How can we advance standards for ethical storytelling? Is it possible to encourage more people to get into nature and learn to love it, while also keeping protected areas wild?
- There are many less visited landscapes, but few that are affordable for everyone. How can we ensure that those who can’t afford to visit expensive natural spaces still get to pursue their passion for nature storytelling without killing these places with kindness?