Meet three Black climbers taking representation to new heights on summits across Africa and around the world

By Michelle Cohan, CNN
6 minute read
Updated 5:59 AM EDT, Tue April 26, 2022
American outdoor explorer Andrew Alexander King is on a mission to not only climb the tallest peaks around the world, but also to help increase diversity on the mountaintops. He's pictured here on Denali mountain in Alaska, the highest peak in North America.
American outdoor explorer Andrew Alexander King is on a mission to not only climb the tallest peaks around the world, but also to help increase diversity on the mountaintops. He's pictured here on Denali mountain in Alaska, the highest peak in North America.
David McCampbell
"Representation equals the future for any athlete," King tells CNN. When he's not exploring mountaintops like Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain in Morocco (pictured), he's working on integrating more diverse communities into climbing -- including back home in Los Angeles, with his gym Sender One.
"Representation equals the future for any athlete," King tells CNN. When he's not exploring mountaintops like Mount Toubkal, the highest mountain in Morocco (pictured), he's working on integrating more diverse communities into climbing -- including back home in Los Angeles, with his gym Sender One.
Andrew Alexander King
King also likes to give back to the communities around the mountains he climbs by volunteering with local nonprofits. He's pictured here with members of the Moving Mountain Trust in Nairobi, Kenya before making the trek up Mt. Kenya on December 8, 2021.
King also likes to give back to the communities around the mountains he climbs by volunteering with local nonprofits. He's pictured here with members of the Moving Mountain Trust in Nairobi, Kenya before making the trek up Mt. Kenya on December 8, 2021.
Kimathi Marshall
On December 11, 2021, King and a group of Kenyans reached the summit of Mt. Kenya. "I plan to keep on, not climbing to conquer, but climbing to really learn about the community and protect those around the mountains and those that actually stand up for (their) issues," he says.
On December 11, 2021, King and a group of Kenyans reached the summit of Mt. Kenya. "I plan to keep on, not climbing to conquer, but climbing to really learn about the community and protect those around the mountains and those that actually stand up for (their) issues," he says.
Andrew Alexander King
Over the next eight years, King wants to tackle the classic seven summits and the seven tallest volcanic summits on each continent. He would be the first Black man to do so -- however, his purpose is larger than himself; instead, he says, it's about giving Black people "the ability to see themselves in a higher place, a bigger pew." Pictured here, he's on top of Pico de Orizaba, the tallest volcanic peak in North America.
Over the next eight years, King wants to tackle the classic seven summits and the seven tallest volcanic summits on each continent. He would be the first Black man to do so -- however, his purpose is larger than himself; instead, he says, it's about giving Black people "the ability to see themselves in a higher place, a bigger pew." Pictured here, he's on top of Pico de Orizaba, the tallest volcanic peak in North America.
Oscar Zaldivar
King, pictured in Aroumd, Morocco rock climbing in 2021, says he's summited around 66 mountains to date and shows no signs of slowing down. When he does eventually stop, it will be "someone else's turn to write their story on breaking the glass ceiling," he says. "It could be a woman that's fighting her fight within a community within the Middle East, or it could be a LGBTQ individual that's fighting their fight within South America."
King, pictured in Aroumd, Morocco rock climbing in 2021, says he's summited around 66 mountains to date and shows no signs of slowing down. When he does eventually stop, it will be "someone else's turn to write their story on breaking the glass ceiling," he says. "It could be a woman that's fighting her fight within a community within the Middle East, or it could be a LGBTQ individual that's fighting their fight within South America."
Andrew Alexander King
King says when he first picked up the sport in his 20s, he climbed in Walmart boots and a hoodie. He says that gear and expeditions are expensive and can be a barrier for entry into mountaineering. King relies on sponsorships to help outfit him. Here, he's pictured at the summit of Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador on November 7, 2021.
King says when he first picked up the sport in his 20s, he climbed in Walmart boots and a hoodie. He says that gear and expeditions are expensive and can be a barrier for entry into mountaineering. King relies on sponsorships to help outfit him. Here, he's pictured at the summit of Cotopaxi Volcano in Ecuador on November 7, 2021.
Andrew Alexander King
In December 2021, King climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the second time (pictured) and brought other Black climbers with him. "I don't want to stand on a mountain and be the only one in the photo," King says. "I'd like it to be a diverse photo with a collective rainbow of individuals, breaking through the glass ceiling."
In December 2021, King climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the second time (pictured) and brought other Black climbers with him. "I don't want to stand on a mountain and be the only one in the photo," King says. "I'd like it to be a diverse photo with a collective rainbow of individuals, breaking through the glass ceiling."
Andrew Alexander King