Rooted in The Earth: A Book Review

       Rooted in the Earth: 5 Green Thumbs Up

Rooted in the Earth is a grounding book for all readers who are looking to unearth the truth about African American environmental heritage.  Written so eloquently by Dianne D. Glave this book is filled with knowledge and captivates your imagination with a bit of story telling.  Her ability to capture our deepest connections with the environment in all its facets is not surprising as her affinity for the natural world was shaped at an early age which she gently shares in the preface of her book.

A history lesson is on every page yet authored to give acknowledgement to those who are accused of being invisible.  Ms. Glave synthesizes over a century of African American environmentalism in 10 chapters and what may have taken the average person years to dig up.  Her wide eyed perspective covers aquatic and terrestrial efforts, and includes a chapter on religion, conservation, children and women. I appreciate the final chapter Environmental Justice not being the first.  The composition of the book allows for your adoration and pride in the stories she's cultivated and the truths she has harvested. We were not always disconnected and her respect for this field shows that we are not all disconnected.

Author: Diane D. Glave

Her point that African Americans have possessed an environmental and land ethic is clear.  The statements that Blacks don't care about the environment, or that we lack a prioritization of such are false and her thoughtful research supports such.  Her gathered knowledge captures what we in the Black community know all to well. When someone speaks for you and about you they probably don't know what they are talking about.  Ms. Glave articulates more than what happened when but also gives insight to how people of color connect with nature over time and how deeply rooted our culture is to the earth and its resources.

This book is an ideal read for anyone who is interested in understanding African American communities beyond that of Environmental Justice and Food Deserts.  It is an excellent book for advanced high school students as well as undergraduate and graduate levels in philosophy, recreation, history, ecology and African American studies.  Her stories at the beginning of every chapter are narratives that lets your imagination usher you into the reality on the following pages.  The photos are timeless and I found myself wanting to see more of who we use to be when we were living in a world where our families, health, livestock and homes were rooted in the earth themselves.  There aren't many books like this written to give account to the diversity of our efforts beyond the discussion of slavery and agriculture. For that anyone who wants the truth....Diane D. Glave just gave it to you.

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