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Black Youth on Skis: Race in the Canadian Snow

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Unfamiliar Landscapes

Abstract

How does race and place shape the experience of Black youth learning to ski in Canada? In this chapter, section one focuses on Black geographies, setting the foundation for understanding how slavery and its after-life contours where Black people are expected to be present or absent. It lays the groundwork for understanding why Black youth are seen as a novelty on ski slopes. Section two explores the image of Black people in winter sports and landscapes. It examines how race shapes perceptions of which bodies are able to thrive in cold climates and activities. Section three is on skiing while Black. It examines how racial streaming in youth sports and recreation ensures that Black youth are excluded from skiing, and are destined to remain unfamiliar with the pastime.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jacqueline L. Scott

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  1. Jacqueline L. Scott
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  1. School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Thomas Aneurin Smith

  2. School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Hannah Pitt

  3. School of Education, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK

    Ria Ann Dunkley

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Scott, J.L. (2022). Black Youth on Skis: Race in the Canadian Snow. In: Smith, T.A., Pitt, H., Dunkley, R.A. (eds) Unfamiliar Landscapes. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94460-5_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94460-5_10

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