Brown Kids

Freedom through mind, body, and minimalism. We're Roe & E and we live how we wish: all love, not sorry. Our singular goal is to be free and we share how we do that here. #debtfreedom #selfsufficiency #landownership We're so glad to be with you.

[brownkidsliving]

But, like, why though? The John Muir Trail x Brown Kids (Part 2)

For everyone who’s just joining us, Roe & E here, two brown folks living their liberation right now. We’ve decided next year we’re hiking the John Muir Trail, a 221-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and I thought it might be cool to interview each other to give you some insight into why in the hell we’d do something like this. (E’s the mastermind of this trip and talks about Black stereotypes beautifully, read E’s interview, Part 1, here!)

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Q: Why do you want to do this?

R: Well, you, actually. You decided to do this after watching a documentary but when I realized you were serious about this — THIS YEAR —  I was p i s s e d. What about THE VAN?! Thing was, the look on your face and how excited your spirit felt at home stopped me in my tracks. It dawned on me that a lot of what we do here on @brownkids is what I *want* to do. ...…What if, for once, I rallied my efforts to help you make a dream of yours come true? How would that change me? us? our lives, for the better? I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be for. So, for me, the #JMT is my invitation to deep partnership. Challenge accepted.

Q: Are you more scared or excited?

R: I’m terrified. Yo, we’ve never slept outside, alone, in a tent before. And, yeah, I’m about the tell the whole internet this but I’m afraid of the dark. I hate hard things. BUT, let’s all admit, my ass and legs are going to look amazing at the end of 30 days, so, again, game on.

Q: I’ll ask you. What does this have to do with minimalism anyway?

R: Everything. Next week, our new screensaver may be trees but there’s nothing more clarifying than planning what you need to survive. Too much weight? No go. Too little. Dangerous. Poor quality? Don’t even think about it. So, it feels like both a gift and a test around what actually matters at the end of the day. Thru-Hiking prep for me has been the ultimate lesson in clarity and release.  

Q: What are you hoping to find in yourself on the trail?

R: Resolve. I’m scared of bailing out... of not being enough to hike this with you or quitting like I do on a lot of other stuff, you know? But I’m more frightened of not meeting who I could become. 

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Read E’s Interview HERE

Whew. I can’t believe we leave for the trail this Thursday! Do you have any questions you’d like to as me? Comment on Instagram and I’ll answer as many as I can! xx roe 

[brownkidsliving]

Sing it again, Sam. 

[brownkidsliving]

But, like, why though? The John Muir Trail x Brownkids

For everyone who’s just joining us, Roe & E here, two brown folks living their liberation right now. We’ve decided next year we’re hiking the John Muir Trail, a 221-mile section of the Pacific Crest Trail, and I thought it might be cool to interview the mastermind behind this big feat, E. Johnson. I was curious about what the hell this has to do with minimalism and, like, why would we do this in the first place?

Q: What do you think about the stereotype, “Black people don’t camp” and what does that mean to you?

A: Well, I think it’s like every other stereotype. It’s short-sighted and unrealistic. It’s basically saying Black people don’t because black people can’t, when really black people don’t until black people do.

((shakes head)) I don’t buy into stereotypes in general. We’re too expansive to be limited.

Q: Okay, so, in the past, you might have laughed and described yourself as “indoorsy”. The John Muir Trail is so…not that. Why this trail and what put you on about it? Why the change of heart?

A: I didn’t like the idea of limiting myself. Especially when I see so many more possibilities than I do limitations. I actually saw a documentary about it called, “Mile. Mile and a Half.” and the views that were captured were pretty awe-inspiring. And the idea of it being so accessible and so shared by those in the group made it seem that much more endearing and it sparked my curiosity. So, after a lot more page searches and video-watchings, the possibilities far outweighed any potential reason for self-limitation.

Q: Okay, I can see that. So, to you, what does thru-hiking have to do with minimalism?

A: This is actually a sectional hike. A thru-hike is a long-distance trail, end-to-end, within a single hiking season. So, [ even though the JMT is 211-miles long } it doesn’t go from one country to another [ Mexico to Canada ]. Even still, it forces you to be intentional with every item you feel you need and want. It forces you to prioritize the value something has for you.

If I had to carry all the things I really value, what would I choose? What would I bring? And that forces me to really dig deep and hone in on what makes something valuable in my life. It forces me to ask the big questions.

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Ha, well, that’s kind of cool to know. It takes two to tango this trail, so, E’s got a few questions to ask me next. Have some questions you’d like him to ask? Go to the top righthand corner and message them to us! They might show up on his interview.

[jeffambrose]

John Muir Trail, YNP

[brownkidsliving]

We set a date in stone: May 10th, 2018. The two of us are going to hit the Pacific Coast Trail and become a couple black thru-hikers <3 

[weneeddiversebooks]

How Black Books Lit My Way Along The Appalachian Trail

"I can confirm that one does not walk 2,000 miles across the face of this country as a black woman without building up an incredible sense of self."

[brownkidsliving]

“The love I carried was books. Exceptional books. Books by black authors, their photos often the only black faces I would talk to for weeks. These were writers who had endured more than I’d ever been asked to, whose strength gave me strength in turn.”

[strictlyminimal]

Miss

Passion simply cannot be replaced. There is something incredibly beautiful and unparelled with genuinely loving what we do. When we not only are passionate, but want to grow in our vocation, it’s not difficult to miss our work when we take time away. It’s at this point that we know we are truly in the right place. Let us all work to find what we love most and pursue it. For when we do, our life will change forever.

[brownkidsliving]

Southeast Asia. Gah, we love this picture so much. This is when we started saying “f*ck it” and moved into lives we were proud of. Six years later, we’re doing all that and more. Hi, loves, we’re Roe + E and this is our first introduction to the web world. We are so glad you’re here.