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A review by zazen
Scars on the Land: An Environmental History of Slavery in the American South by David Silkenat
5.0
Excellent. As someone who works in the environmental field in the south, I feel like this is essential reading.
Without considering the impact that slavery had on the environment, or vice versa, you will never fully understand either. Slavery profoundly shaped this land, and the wounds are still fresh in many ways, though more often than not, they go unnoticed. Silkenat has written an insightful and well researched overview that helps to make them visible.
A theme throughout the book that I particularly appreciated was the emphasis on how the cruelty, exploitation, and domination of other human beings directly led to the destruction and degradation of the environment. This is perhaps the clearest example I know of to illustrate an essential idea in the philosophy of Social Ecology: that ecological crises are intrinsically linked to social structures of violence, domination, and injustice.
I also really enjoyed the passages detailing how self-emancipated former slaves were able to find a measure of freedom as maroons within the harsh and challenging environments of the south. The profound relationship many had with the land allowed them to live and sometimes thrive in unexpected places, and use that knowledge to lead others to freedom, or during the Civil War, contribute valuable knowledge to Union commanders allowing them to outmaneuver Confederate armies by moving through areas considered impassable.
Without considering the impact that slavery had on the environment, or vice versa, you will never fully understand either. Slavery profoundly shaped this land, and the wounds are still fresh in many ways, though more often than not, they go unnoticed. Silkenat has written an insightful and well researched overview that helps to make them visible.
A theme throughout the book that I particularly appreciated was the emphasis on how the cruelty, exploitation, and domination of other human beings directly led to the destruction and degradation of the environment. This is perhaps the clearest example I know of to illustrate an essential idea in the philosophy of Social Ecology: that ecological crises are intrinsically linked to social structures of violence, domination, and injustice.
I also really enjoyed the passages detailing how self-emancipated former slaves were able to find a measure of freedom as maroons within the harsh and challenging environments of the south. The profound relationship many had with the land allowed them to live and sometimes thrive in unexpected places, and use that knowledge to lead others to freedom, or during the Civil War, contribute valuable knowledge to Union commanders allowing them to outmaneuver Confederate armies by moving through areas considered impassable.