“Secret Life Of Plants”: A Celebration of Nature’s Gift to Humankind

“Secret Life Of Plants”: A Celebration of Nature’s Gift to Humankind

Alice Walker, an esteemed novelist, and confirmed naturalist, once said “healing begins where the wound was made.” Wounds from pandemic despair, desertion, and other difficulties reminded us of the fragile, yet interconnected relationship between nature and humans. From colonialism to the climate crisis, humans have taken “shelter, food, habiliment” from the natural world “without consent” (Stevie Wonder – ”The Secret Life of Plants,” 1979). Furthermore, generations of structural racism and oppressive policies have stripped away access and wounded the connection between BIPOC communities and Mother Earth. This presentation will critically examine these issues, including greenspace gaps, park privilege, and how nature inequities are patterned by race and place in the United States. Understanding the need to address these shortcomings, we continue to recognize and honor the role of nature’s gifts to health and wellbeing, including her ability to heal, restore and inspire.