Let us not forget the cultural component of this disscussion.
When I was growing up in "DA HOOD" most of my friends, cousins, uncles, and adult males were into fighting, lowriding, and all sorts of criminal mischief. Just about every person in my extended family has been incarcerated by the law at some point.
Rock climbing was not even a concept in my younger world. My saving grace was parents with enough forsight to see to it I was always busy doing something to keep me out of trouble.
My pops always took me hunting and fishing, so thats where my passion for the hills grew from.
Moms would work her ass off so I would always have a skateboard to play with(cause she knew i'd go steal one otherwise). Skateboarding led me to snow boarding which led me to a mtn.sports type store that had climbing gear also. Well, those were just about the coolest toys I had ever seen in my whole life, I was hooked. I couldn't afford any gear at that point, but there was a little yellow book there for 5 bucks called Rockcraft by Royal Robbins. Bought it, and studied that book. Figured out all the knots with a piece of scrappy rope. Read a couple more books on the subject all the while hoarding my money for some gear. Finally got the essentials (harness, rope, set of nuts, sut of hexes, some webbing for runners, some ovals, a super 8, and some stiff ass board lasted crack shoes. Had every thing but a partner. Time soon sent me a person who had climbed before. So we go out and climb a 5.9 sport route. Partner gets to the first bolt, can't make it any higher. Well I've just read 3 books on the subject so I'm an expert right? I make it to the anchor in no time and back to the ground and thus began my life passion.
I live a dramaticly different life than all the folks from the old neigborhood because of climbing.
I wish all the kids and punks and thieves that I grew up with could have had the same kind of liberation from city existence like me, but sadly it could not be. Many of them are dead, hard core addicts, or in prison.
They were wrapped up in a culture where the mountain life is as much of a concept as playing polo at the country club.
I sure the hell feel lucky.

yes, i'm not afraid to say as another 'visible minority' that the sport is overwhelmingly white. at the same time, i have never found myself unwelcome, all the climbers i've met are extremely hospitable. it may be a similar pattern to other sports that require a lot of resources, such as scuba diving (although climbing is really not that expensive comparatively).

most sports have a critical mass of minorities who have achieved everything possible. i think the unique things about climbing that makes it harder for many people without an 'in' to get involved are:

1) climbing is still largely taught through one-on-one relationships. i don't know of anyone who just picked up a book or rope and spontaneously began climbing. most people i know, including myself, had a guide who cared enough to show us how great the sport is. usually a friend or mentor... let's be honest, friendship (esp. as you grow older) is still in most cases with people of similar race and class backgrounds.

2) minorities who still don't have an decent piece of the pie in the society are sometimes motivated to excel in sports b/c other doors to achievement and wealth are not exactly wide open. but if you can get sponsored by rbk or make it onto the wheaties box, you can gain a lot of recognition and wealth. climbing (thank god) is not a place where celebrities and endorsements are the thing. most climbers don't climb so they can 'be like mike'. the downside is that minorities who look to sports as an alternative path to societal recognition will probably practice other sports before they spend their weekends climbing b/c other sports are more likely to provide recognition.

obviously this is contentious b/c white climbers are a liberal lot who (rightly, i think) believe themselves to be more accepting than most. but i think making a concerted effort (perhaps with an assist from some philanthropists) to get more blacks, native-americans, latinos, etcetera into the sport will enrich the sport and push it in new directions. minorities who climb may also find that it provides an opportunity to network with a lot of well-off folks with open minds, and that will push the whole society forward.... :wink: