Dominican student at MSU in Texas, achieves national attention with #BlackBirdersWeek campaign

Chelsea Connor

A Dominican student at Midwestern State University, in Texas, USA, Chelsea Connor, received national attention recently with a campaign to increase the visibility of Black birders and the challenges faced by Blacks engaging in outdoor activities.

As a co-founder of the hashtag #BlackBirdersWeek announced on Twitter on May 29 and the creation of #BlackInNature, the senior biology major with an art minor made a guest appearance on the National Public Radio podcast Shortwave. It was something she’d never imagined.
“It’s been surreal,” Connor said. “I’ve listened to NPR before and had never thought I’d be on there. It was a chill conversation. I look at my Twitter accounts, and I have National Wildlife following me and other accounts.”

But fame was not her goal. “The main point is people are listening to our movement. The protests going on, which are necessary, and now more than ever, the conversations,” she said.

The #BlackBirdersWeek initiative was prompted by the birdwatching incident in Central Park in New York in May [New York woman called police on Blackbirder]. In addition to the social impact, many took notice of the beautiful bird pictures shared all week by Blacks in the field.

“It started with #BlackInNature, where we wanted to see black people outdoors in the STEM field,” Connor said. “We wanted students and professionals in the STEM field to celebrate and enjoying working outside.”

The co-founders included Anna Gifty Opoku-Agyeman, Sheridan Alford, Danielle Belleny, Joseph Saunders, Tykee James and Connor, and the group has a Black Birders Week listing on Wikipedia.

“It achieved what we thought it would and then some,” Connor said. “I wanted Black people to not feel alone, to experience the outdoors, and to not be wary when outside. Black people are afraid of getting killed outdoors when we do things.” Her hope is that the initiative will an impact so that more Blacks will see the benefits of working in STEM fields or being #BlackInNature.

“I find it very impressive when students step out of their comfort zones to confront issues that have bearing on the world and society beyond Wichita Falls,” said Dr. Charles Watson, Associate Professor of biology at MSU Texas. “The best way I have found to mentor exceptional and driven people like Chelsea is just to reassure her that I am behind her, help her with resources, and promote her work. I am lucky to have students like her in my lab; their success is our success.”

The Dominican student enjoys birding in Texas, too. She also has visited the University’s Dalquest Desert Research Station in far West Texas. “I’m still learning the North American bird; I enjoy the color range and identifying the birds,” she said. She enjoys the woodpeckers found in North Texas, including the Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker.

Connor was also featured on Smithsonian Magazine’s Conservation Commons blog, the BBC’s Discover Wildlife, livestreams with Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Aquarium, as well as other online stories or question/answer sessions.

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15 Comments

  1. Will Mc
    June 20, 2020

    Beautiful work young lady! Birding (bird watching) is an interesting activity and i encourage more Dominicans to get involved in birding as an outdoor activity.

    Birding is beautiful, nature is beautiful, black is beautiful… Black lives matter

  2. lovelyblack
    June 19, 2020

    Ok. I listened!! Good discussion about her experience as a blackbirder. I would just have been happier if I heard a Dominican accent…Lol. It was lovely though.

    • Coleen
      June 19, 2020

      What kind of comment it that. Just say good job and leave!!

      Great Job Chelsea!! Great achievements and its great to see your passion grow.

  3. Jackie
    June 19, 2020

    Way to go Chelsea!

  4. Wilbert Connor
    June 19, 2020

    Chelsea, I am impressed with your tenacity and proactive approach towards your goals. Keep it up.
    Dr. Wilbert Connor

  5. Nkrumah Kwame
    June 19, 2020

    Young lady, I am soooo proud of you. Really!! I wish you remain focused and humble. No doubt your parents instilled in you those qualities that you now exhibit. I have no doubt that Dominica’s future is in good hands when you return to take your rightful place in our nation’s development.
    One word of advice if I may: aptitude will get you employed but attitude will keep you employed.
    HOTEP!

  6. MR DOMINICA
    June 19, 2020

    Let me congratulate this young lady ,but there is something I noticed as a Dominican she is too much involved with black ,she should encourage African americans to prove to the world that they have the right to live ,earn , improve themselves , like we do in the caribbean and most of all avoid trouble minor or major in other words wake up

    • Frank N Stein
      June 19, 2020

      African American? Whats that? Are you addressing only black people with African parents? The day you stop using that derogatory term will be the beginning of freedom. She is black what are really saying

      • de Observer
        June 20, 2020

        Grow some common sense. The writer say African America. You too are African Caribbean. If the origin of Black people in the Western Hemisphere is the Western Hemisphere, then the roots of these people is slavery.! But it is apparent you do not understand, and have not studied history, so your thought process is localize to the little underdeveloped, third world country you are from, and not a global citizen.

        Then again how could a Frankenstein, a ten foot bloke with a huge body and small head possess much more.

        • Frank N Stein
          June 22, 2020

          .It seems the OBserver losing his marbles. Is Chelsea African America s you call it? And no, I am not African Caribbean so hold your nonsense to yourself. IT also seems you cant read, if you can change my name and even give it a new meaning without ever seeing me :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: how can I even take your posts seriously/ You are a joker and a poorly educated one too.

          • de Observer
            June 22, 2020

            Only an unlearned character who has not developed inductive and deductive reasoning capacity, lacking the ability to make inferences, would not recognize the need for every Black person living in, and being educated in America, to identify with African Americans for the purpose of survival, which for the same reason the buffalo, more than not, travel in groups.

            Just being black in that country, even as a student, makes her a target for racism. The whole world knows that: as demonstrated by their protest and support with African Americans’ struggles. But in Dominica, due to traditional training, you are not the only one with this difficulty to relinquish this colonialized slave mentality! Without good roots, a tree cannot produce good fruits.

            Your advocacy is symptomatic of the sad reason why Dominicans like you talk the talk, but completely refuse change, why, because you love mental enslavement. Little wonder you have chosen the acronym of a monster to represent you.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  7. lovelyblack
    June 19, 2020

    I am a regular listener of NPR. How could I have missed that. It would be a thrill to hear my fellow Dominican on NPR….Wow. Lovely!!! I will try to get the podcast.

  8. Goodwill
    June 19, 2020

    I commend Chelsea on her achievements. We must encourage young people to engage in positive pursuits which develop their creativity and serve as a foundation for their future. Well done young lady!

  9. Shaka zulu
    June 19, 2020

    Wonderful!!!!!!

    • Vellie Nicholas
      June 19, 2020

      Well done, young lady!!

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