All posts filed under: series

Black to the future:Naturism,nudism, and clothes free living African Americans and the clothes free community

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“Being a naturist, I chose to experience my nudity outdoors in natural environments and indoors within communities of diverse people in non sexual environments. For me, it’s a choice to openly and intimately experience myself in every season. I openly and intimately embrace all of the elements: air, fire, water, earth. And I commit to maintaining practices of self-love and self-acceptance through all the seasons of my life. I chose to have my first naturist experience during a time in my life when I was consciously seeking and exploring personal, spiritual and tangible liberation and freedom.” Jasmine Burems – Honey & Gold – The Goddess Lifestyle So where do we stand? What is the current state of the relationship between African-Americans and the clothes free community? Is the clothes free community and the practice of clothes free living an inherently a white European practice? I wish I could say the state of the union was strong. However, despite the previously unknown to be rich historical connection between people of African descent and naturism/clothes free living, …

There are negros among us – Naturism, nudism and clothes free living African Americans and the clothes free community

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NATURISM IS FOR “every body,” as the saying goes, and its offer of freedom, health, and social equality are inherently available to any and all. Yet naturism in North America remains blindingly white. – Mark Storey Nude & Natural 25.3 Described as the golden age of nudism by some the post World War II era of nudism wasn’t so golden for African-Americans in the U.S.  The African-American experience in the clothes free community reflected very much what was happening in the rest of society. The racial prejudice and segregation present in the broader society was present in the U.S. naturist/nudist subculture. Perhaps inspired by the experiences of “negro” GIs returning from WWII in Europe or buoyed by the ideals of emerging civil rights movement, the African-Americans actively sought to take part in naturist/nudist/ communities, clubs and camps. This interest was significant enough to permit a report on the phenomenon by the prestigious African-American magazine Ebony. This influx of African-Americans seeking to participate in the practice by joining the increasing number of nudist club, camps and …

From sacred to profane The Hottentot Venus effect – Naturism,nudism and clothes free living African Americans and the clothes free community

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“If anything is sacred, the human body is sacred” -Walt Whitman I Sing the Body Electric In many ways the next chapter in the clothes free history of Africans and their descendants in Europe and the Americas could be described as a journey from the sacred to the profane. The cultural and religious values of European colonists judged the natural, logical states of dress of the indigenous Africans to be profane, barbaric, savage and uncivilized. The colonial era and the accompanying slave trade which brought Africans into contact with Europeans who had a limited view of the world, amplified this perspective. The European populous was exposed to body shapes and skin color they had never seen before. Her “unusual” physical characteristics though not unnatural for Khoisan (Khoikhoi) women were considered freakish by Europeans in London and then Paris. Many African-American women will recognize the body shape that was such a curiosity to the European gaze. The learned and not so learned people saw these unfamiliar bodies with a European eye for what was considered normal. …

The African Continent Naturism, Nudism and clothes free living -African Americans and the clothes free community

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“Until lions have their own historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter” – African Proverb This is the first in a four-part series of posts about the presence of African-Americans and people of African descent in the clothes free community for Black History Month. This series will look at a brief history of naturism, nudism, and clothes free living in connection with  African-Americans and their participation in the clothes free community. Hopefully, this series will accomplish two things; deepen the awareness of the African American community about the historical practice naturism among people of African ancestry. Also to encourage dialogue between the African-American community and the clothes free community about the lingering limiting factors that impact their participation. The history In order to understand the current state of African-Americans and naturism, nudism and clothes free living, we have to look back at the history of naturism, nudity and clothes free life among people from the African continent. With few exceptions most examinations of the history of naturism in the clothes free community start with …

Naturism nudism and clothes free living African Americans and the clothes free community

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For black history month we will be publishing a four-part series the Naturism, Nudism, and Clothes Free Living – African-Americans & the clothes free community. Each week in February we will explore a different aspects of naturism, nudity and clothes free life in the African-American context. We will start on the African continent and move to the intersection of native Africans with Europeans and Americans of european descent. Then explore the place of African-Americans in the height of the naturist/nudist and finish with a look at present day. This online magazine/site is one of the only naturist/clothes free sites to present the African-American perspective in the clothes free community. Photo credits Far right : Noire 3000 studios http://www.noire3000studios.com/

The whimsical clothes free iPad art of Andrew Chambers

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A few months ago I came across what I thought was some whimsical, intriguing and well done clothes free (nude) art on twitter. When I explored more the artist further I was even more intrigued to discover these beautifully done pieces were created on an iPad. I reached out to the artist Andrew Chambers and invited him to have his work showcased on this site. This is the second in our artist gallery series which is part of our continued effort to cover a wide range of clothes free life. W. e are proud to share the work of Andrew Chambers with our readers. Hear how Andrew came to create theses pieces depicting ordinary activities clothes free and take in his exceptional work. Andrew trained as a jeweler at The John Cass School of Art in London when he was 16, he has always enjoyed drawing but never found the time to pursue this aspect of his creativity due to heavy work demands and a busy family life. When given a gift of an iPad …

Insider/outsider series starts

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As I shared last year we going to start a post series called insiders/outsiders exploring the perspective of groups that may have been excluded from clothes free community in the past. Though one of the ideals of nudists,naturist and clothes free livers is acceptanceof difference. However, because we still human beings some groups have from time to time been insular. Various groups of people have been made to feel like outsiders or excluded outright by those from the dominant group. Some do not want to acknowledge this part of the clothes free experience while others still actively pursue exclusion. In light of the lack of acceptance in the greater society being experienced by nudists and in an attempt to promote civil, conversation about an important issue we are presenting this series. The post will be from a person perspective and experience. So while the subject may be controversial the conversation needs to be civil. Comments are encouraged but all comment are moderated.

Insider/outsiders a four part blog series

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Who is in and who is left out of the clothes free community. Starting the first week of January we will begin a four part series of blog posted called Insiders/outsiders. Each week this series will explore the clothes free community from the perspective of four groups that have at times been left out or excluded. Individual authors will share perspective on how they experience being an insider or outsider. Stay time for a spirited and meaningful conversation.