Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s “Evolved Man of the Week” profile. Each week, we will highlight an individual who embodies what it means to be an evolved man, including famous and non-famous individuals. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to science and comics writer and editor, lifelong birder, and the host of the National Geographic T.V. show Extraordinary Birder, Christian Cooper.
Cooper was born in New York City in 1963. Cooper’s parents were both educators. Every summer, they would load up their Volkswagen Westphalia Camper with their family dog, an English cocker spaniel, and embark on long road trips throughout the U.S. and Canada. They knew that not every place they visited would be accepting of a black family. During their travels, the family took a break to eat at a diner in a remote area. Upon arrival, they sat at the counter and waited. And waited.
As the Coopers waited, a white couple entered and were promptly served. Humiliated, the Coopers sat and watched. These experiences would shape Cooper’s perspective on social justice issues.
During a road trip from his Long Island home to California, Cooper developed an interest in birds after reading a book on birdwatching. He held the position of president for the Harvard Ornithological Club in the 1980s and presently serves on the Board of Directors for NYC Audubon. Cooper has an extensive background in LGBT activism and was a co-chair of GLAAD’s board in the 1980s.
Cooper, a senior biomedical editor at Health Science Communications, has become a regular substitute co-host for the public access television news series Gay USA. On May 16, 2022, National Geographic revealed Cooper will host a show on their American T.V. channel called Extraordinary Birder, exploring the world of birds alongside experts in the field. The show premiered on June 17, 2023. Cooper received a Daytime Emmy Award on June 8, 2024, for his work on Extraordinary Birder in the Outstanding Daytime Personality category.
Marvel’s first openly gay writer and editor was Cooper. In the Starfleet Academy series, the character Yoshi Mishima made history as the first gay male character in Star Trek. This groundbreaking portrayal was recognized by a GLAAD Media Award nomination in 1999. He is credited with introducing Marvel’s first openly lesbian character, Victoria Montesi, and writing Queer Nation: The Online Gay Comix. In Alpha Flight #106, Cooper served as associate editor during the revelation of Northstar’s homosexuality.
Cooper has written stories for Marvel Comics Presents, often centering on characters such as Ghost Rider and Vengeance. He has edited many X-Men collections and the last two issues of the Marvel Swimsuit Special.
The Central Park birdwatching incident, in which Cooper was involved on May 25, 2020, coincided with the murder of George Floyd by police and resulted in the establishment of Black Birders Week. The incident serves as the inspiration for his online comic book about racism, which is illustrated by Alitha Martinez and published by D.C. Comics, called “It’s a Bird.“
Christian Cooper shares his reasons for not pursuing legal action against Amy Cooper.
“I approach it the way I do it because I was there. And yeah, she’s a deeply flawed human being who did a shitty racist thing, and may still be doing shitty racist things.”… “But still, I can’t help but see her as a human being because I was there.”
Christian Cooper’s life has been extraordinary, devoted to birding and social justice. We hope Christian Cooper continues to thrive and has more chances to observe his beloved birds. Today, we honor Christain Cooper as our Evolved Man of the Week.
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