Ecofeminism Places

In her piece Small Wonder, Kingsolver explains how setting impacts her state of mind. As a writer, she admits that a lot of her material is organic, in that she simply imagines it. This isn’t something that she can just conjure up at her whim whenever she feels like though, she very much gets distracted by things interfering with her writing process. What she comes to find is that the best environment for her is one that is a natural and undeveloped as possible. Even though she is very much removed from Africa at her house in the southwest, she can put herself their through imagination. “I needed only to be someplace where I could think straight, remember, and properly invent. I needed the blessed emptiness of mind that comes from birdsong and dripping tress.” (Kingsolver). I can relate to the point that she is making, that somewhere quiet can and tranquil can calm the noise in your head and allow vivid stories to manifest. I am not used to writing as Kingsolver does, because when I write, such as now, I have an objective. I can do this completely removed form nature in a room with no windows at all if I had to. But to write creatively, I agree that the beauty of nature helps inspire.

Bell Hooks “Touching the Earth” offers an interesting perspective into the struggle of Black Americans adapting to life after the abolishment of slavery, during the migration from rural to urban areas during the late 19^th and 20^th century. Recently liberated, these people left in search of a better life and opportunity, which is understandable seeing as they were oppressed so severely for so long. Although they were objectively better off living freely, they became collectively distressed adapting to urban life. As we all know, although no longer kept under slavery, Black Americans did not get the privilege’s to be put on the level playing field that White people had enjoyed, something that is still occurring today.  Although they were now independent and self-sustaining, “without the space to grow food, to commune with nature, or to mediate the starkness of poverty with the splendor of nature, black people experienced profound depression” (Hooks). When I think about it, Hooks makes a compelling point. When it comes down to it, we are not hardwired for a life surrounded by cement and artificial lighting. We are biologically accustomed to living amongst the land, as the black farmers had. Although under slavery, these Black slaves saw the direct impact they had on the land they tended, and became enveloped within their local ecosystems. Like the birds and bugs and forest critters, they didn’t so much fret on the bigger picture of what awful oppression they endured, they instead mostly just focused on what was right in front of them, the land which they have been biologically accustomed to. Once that connection to nature was taken and the oppression remained, although changed appearance, the distraction was gone and the angst became much more real.

Terry Tempest Williams covered a very sensitive issue by discussing the designation of land, specifically in the Colorado and Utah area. “It is a battle over public and private uses of land, what will remain sovereign. Guns are replaced by metaphorical monkey wrenches and shovels” (Williams). I have understanding for both the government authorities and the locals living on the land. In the example he gave, when the federal government wanted to permanently close a road that was damaged from a flood to protect the Bull Trout from extinction. Residents demanded the road stay open for their own convenience. It is ironic because we have talked about how larger entities such as big businesses degrade the environment for their own incentives, often harming those who are physically attached to the land as they live on it. In this case though, the big guy being the federal government just simply wanted to protect the eco system, while the preferred actions of the locals would do the opposite.

From my interpretation, Kingsolver defines place quite literally, which greatly impacts her state of mind and creativity. For Hooks, place also directly correlates with state of mind. In the case of Black Americans, when they migrated away from rural areas to suburban areas, they lost nature and became stripped of what helped keep their peace all along. Williams views place as a physical entity that is owned by either private or public entities. Williams often mentions how many millions of acres are being designated as what. Those that are outplaced are those that do not have say over land, however that is not always a bad thing because their actions could likely be damaging if not restricted. Kingsolver and Hooks would view those who are deprived of natural surroundings and immersed solely in developed areas as robbed of what helps provide joy and peace in Hooks case and creativity and freedom in Kingsolver’s.

I grew up in South shore Massachusetts, between the towns of Norwell and Rockland. I find it to have just the right touch of human interference for my preference. I’m not too inconvenienced finding restaurants, stores, and other perks of living in an industrial nation, however I can retreat and enjoy a walk in the woods or day by the beach that is quiet enough for me. For my picture, I included the bridge crossing over the North River separating Norwell from Marshfield. I find this symbolic because to stand on the bridge and look over the river, I can admire the view and have a great appreciation for the place I live. However, the bridge enables us to cross over into the neighboring town easily, right over what is considered a natural border. In that sense, the bridge gives us freedom. It is the right balance for me, not for everyone. While eco-feminism talks about philosophy, we do not see the truths associated with it apply to everyone. Some Black people are perfectly happy in urban life, choosing the fast pace of life over the slow contemplative life in rural areas. “Unmindful of our history of living harmoniously on the land, many contemporary black folks see no value in supporting ecological movements, or see ecology and the struggle to end racism as competing concerns” (Hooks). Whilst this is very true that there is a connection to the exploitation the Earth gets and the oppression of minorities, in the context of what it means to the individual, being closer to Earth isn’t always the answer. While the black community collectively were oppressed, they certainly felt the loss not being near nature, so that was a clearly bad thing that happened to them. While oppression is objectively bad, for some though, that loss of nature. may be offset by the advantage they gained from moving to a place with more modern conveniences that you can find in a northern city, it just depends on what ends up working out best for their personal well-being.

The end of slavery marked the beginning of a new era in America called reconstruction, which sought the rebuild the nation after the damage from the Civil War. The Black American were most vulnerable during this time, as they were now just experiencing no longer being forced into slavery, and now got to make their own choices as to how their time would be spent. Many chose to pursue education. “Many teachers commented that their classrooms were filled with both young and old, grandfathers with their children and grandchildren, all eager to learn” (memory.loc.gov.) With their new-found independence, they chose to fill up their days becoming more educated. The benefit of doing this is that they are keeping themselves busy and adapting to their new opportunities. Had they not occupied their time, they would more severely feel the loss of what occupied their time before, which often involved working directly with nature. Also, now being recognized as more than just slaves, Black people also could find a place in the government. “African Americans became involved in politics not only as voters but also as governmental representatives at the local, state and national level” (memory.loc.gov.) Here we see how the expression people + place = politics. While Black people had been in the America for some time by then, it was the fact that they were now being treated more equally that they were able to become a legitimate part of the politics. When they were enslaved, there was no choice for them to become part of the political process that helps make decisions. Only after they were recognized did they have that accessible to them. Being able to adapt to their new freedom in a reconstructing America created great opportunity for African Americans to flip the script and create a new life for themselves outside of the agricultural setting that they were so used to, and by being recognized as more as slaves they could become part of the fabric of the government and then have more sway in creating policies to shape how the future would turn out than they had before when they were reduced to just tools for agriculture.

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