Why are African Americans so underrepresented when it comes to
interest in nature, outdoor recreation, and environmentalism? In
this thought-provoking study, Carolyn Finney looks beyond the
discourse of the environmental justice movement to examine how the
natural environment has been understood, commodified, and
represented by both white and black Americans. Bridging the fields
of environmental history, cultural studies, critical race studies,
and geography, Finney argues that the legacies of slavery, Jim
Crow, and racial violence have shaped cultural understandings of
the "great outdoors" and determined who should and can have access
to natural spaces.
Drawing on a variety of sources from film, literature, and popular
culture, and analyzing different historical moments, including the
establishment of the Wilderness Act in 1964 and the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, Finney reveals the perceived and real ways in
which nature and the environment are racialized in America. Looking
toward the future, she also highlights the work of African
Americans who are opening doors to greater participation in
environmental and conservation concerns.