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Please text your questions for the panelist to the chat.

We will queue questions and comments, which we'll have the opportunity to address around 2:45 PM.

Another book by W.E.B Du Bois, "The Souls of Black Folk," is available on Gutenberg: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/408/408-h/408-h.htm

https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/

Continuing the work of MLK in our time.

Several African-American writers with pieces in the 1991 anthology on commentaries on Thoreau, Heaven Is Under Our Feet: James Earle Jones, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson

Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old EMT who was killed by police officers in her own home

This essay by J. Drew Lanham underlines (with some humor) some of the things that have kept black people away from nature. Corina Newsome and others recently organized a Black Birders Week on Twitter. https://orionmagazine.org/article/9-rules-for-the-black-birdwatcher/

Ahmaud Arbery, 25-year-old black man, shot to death while jogging in near Brunswick, Georgia

Also his essay “Birding While Black” has been eye-opening for many of my students.

The 1619 Project underlines the central importance of slavery in US history. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html

George Perry Floyd Jr. killed in Minneapolis, Minnesota on May 25, 2020.

“His” meaning Drew Lanham — as Geoff addressed earlier.

Also to be recommended is the personal essay “Black Women and Wilderness” by Evelyn White (Alice Walker biographer), another account of black people having reasons to resist “wilderness.” It’s available in the 2nd edition of the Norton Book of Nature Writing (College Edition)

An Antiracist Reading ListIbram X. Kendi on books to help America transcend its racist heritage: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/books/review/antiracist-reading-list-ibram-x-kendi.html?login=email&auth=login-emailIbram X. Kendi, Thoreau Society 2021 Keynote Speaker, https://www.ibramxkendi.com/

Kendi's own books are available from The Shop at Walden Pond (and they're great!):https://www.shopatwaldenpond.org/product_p/1568585987.htmhttps://www.shopatwaldenpond.org/product_p/0525509288.htm

The latest (6/11) episode of the NH podcast Outide/In is 'Birding While Black': https://outsideinradio.org/shows/birding-while-black.

Images of Ellen Garrison's letters: https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk02oJwSdY9hoTM-ZbKY9iCooq8IwjA:1592160398883&source=univ&tbm=isch&q=ellen+garrison%27s+letters&client=firefox-b-1-d&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj_s4DY-4HqAhX5SDABHejdBD0Q7Al6BAgHEC4&biw=1280&bih=579&dpr=1.5

Question: Would you agree with Ibram X. Kendi when he says there's no such thing as being "not a racist"? That is, one is either a racist or an antiracist?

Question (if there’s time): I’m hearing “out there” and also from my black students the importance of very much elevating “black lives” in this moment and committing to work against anti-Blackness. That includes not using broader anti-racism and POC terms (in this moment). Are YOU hearing this? What are your thoughts on this and are there unintended consequences here for other POC/indigenous people?

People of Color

I have no “agenda” here — just wanting to hear what people think!

For instance my students criticized college administrators for using broad language about “racism” and not NAMING anti-blackness. My question is what the impact might be on others.

I very much appreciate what Maria is saying here!

I've heard example of people in power defusing charges of racism by saying Oh, we have people of color here. So-and-so is Japanese! Which avoids the particular challenges of black people.

HDT would agree with Kendi here, I imagine, in terms of saying indifference is complicity.

I think so too. To me it's like what Howard Zinn said: "You can't be neutral on a moving train."

Thank you everyone — such a wonderful panel!

Profound -- and POWERFUL!

This was wonderful….thank you!!!!!!

Thank you all!

Thank you all so very much!!!

Thank you all for this wonderful webinar!