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How Black Folks Have Built Resilient Spaces for Themselves in US Mountains

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Earth Curiosity

Uncovering the intersections of science, innovation, nature, and our Black community

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Earth Curiosity

Earth Curiosity

How Black Folks Have Built Resilient Spaces for Themselves in US Mountains

Did you know that there was a hidden utopia of formerly enslaved people located in the mountains of Appalachia?

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

The Ecology of the Forest: Bringing Black People into the Woods

From being historically excluded to now leading the US Forest Service, Black people are reclaiming forests for our community.

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

How Black Beaches Were Developed to Combat Jim Crow Segregation

One of the most famous coastal environmental activists was a Black woman committed to preserving the legacy of prosperous Black beaches.

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

How Bees and Black Folks Have a History of Working Together

Black women at the Tuskegee Institute ran one of the most famous Black beekeeping societies.

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

How the Georgia Peach Replaced Cotton Farming and Chattel Slavery

The not-so-sweet history of the peach reminds us that many American industries are built off the backs of Black labor.

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

George Washington Carver’s Salty Start to an Agricultural Revolution

To uplift Black sharecroppers, Carver used peanut plants to heal the land from cotton.

by Cameron Oglesby

Earth Curiosity

How Oysters Became a Source of Economic Freedom for Emancipated Black Folks

Today’s Black oystering traditions in the Chesapeake Bay trace back to 19th-century Black oystering communities.

by Cameron Oglesby

@earthincolor.co

Craig of the Creek will delight your inner child!

Craig of the Creek will delight your inner child! If you’re feeling nostalgic for the days when Saturday mornings meant cereal & cartoons, this is the show for you.⁠
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This Cartoon Network series follows 10-year-old Craig Williams and his two best friends Kelsey and J.P. as they adventure in the nearby creek, a kid utopia filled with wonders such as a meadow reigned over by Horse Girls, a casino where the currency is potato chips, and an elaborate city made entirely out of cardboard boxes. The series has also been praised for its thoughtful representation, ranging from a variety of lgbtq+ characters to its inclusion of Black American Sign Language. ⁠
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Watch it on Hulu or HBO Max 📺

*adds Blackalachia by @moses to our must-watch lis

*adds Blackalachia by @moses to our must-watch list* 👀 ⁠
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This gorgeous hourlong concert film created by and starring the Ghanaian-American singer-songwriter is a celebration of the beauty of nature.⁠
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When Sumney left Los Angeles in 2017, he made his home in Asheville, North Carolina—just an hour from the Blue Ridge Mountains, where Blackalachia was filmed. Despite never before living in nature, he found himself drawn to the mountains. “There is a history of Black people in Appalachia,” said Sumney, speaking about the project to @wepresent. “There is a history of Black music being the foundation of bluegrass and country. There is a history of migration into and out of Appalachia.” ⁠
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The film, which was shot in 2020, has a setlist that pulls from Sumney’s albums Aromanticism (2017) and Græ (2020). “Over the course of two days, we filmed 14 songs, totally live, the trees as our audience, the grasshoppers our background singers. The film is a wild imagining of what can happen when we seek not just to reclaim nature, but to reintegrate with it.”⁠
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Watch the full film on Moses Sumney’s YouTube channel ⛰🎙🎶⁠

Did you know the environmental justice movement be

Did you know the environmental justice movement began with a protest against the state dumping toxic waste near the water supply of the predominantly Black town of Afton, North Carolina? When Dr. Benjamin Chavis (@drbenchavisjr) joined the demonstration, he had no idea that the arrest of him and over 500 other protesters that day would be the catalyst for a new movement against environmental racism and injustice.Read “Fighting for Warrenton: The Birth of the Environmental Justice Movement” at www.earthincolor.co for Dr. Chavis’ full story ✊🏾🌱🙅🏾☢️

Have you ever sipped on ginger ale to soothe an up

Have you ever sipped on ginger ale to soothe an upset stomach or brewed chamomile tea to help yourself fall asleep? 🌿🍵 For generations, Black folks have used the plants and natural resources around us as medicine—a practice that has come to be called herbalism. In addition to serving as a reminder of how our personhood is intertwined with our environment, herbalism also provides our people with more agency over our own healing. 🍄💐⁠
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Swipe through the carousel for some tips from @devvyrwash and @teresacarollynn on building your at-home apothecary, and read ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Herbalism’ at earthincolor.co for more! 🪴🌺

We sat down with veteran EJ organizer @drbenchavis

We sat down with veteran EJ organizer @drbenchavisjr to unearth his land history. Dr. Chavis grew up in a family full of freedom fighters and organizers, and by the time he hit his teenage years, he was already involved in the civil rights movement. While working as the executive of the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice, Dr. Chavis heard about plans to build a toxic waste dump in the predominantly Black town of Afton, North Carolina—not far at all from Chavis’s hometown of Oxford. So in 1982, Dr. Chavis joined the multiracial coalition of people who came together to fight the state’s plans to dump cancer-causing chemicals right next to Afton’s groundwater source. He was one of the over 500 people who were arrested at those protests, which garnered national attention and helped to spark what would become the environmental justice movement. #environmentaljustice⁠
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Read Dr. Chavis’s full UNEARTHED land history at www.earthincolor.co.⁠

Something soft for a chilly winter morning ❄️☀️⁠
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June Jordan (1936-2002) was a Jamaican American poet, professor, activist, and children’s book writer. To June, it was essential that her writing across all genres and topics sounded authentic to the way Black people actually spoke. As a dear friend and fellow poet once said, “she used black English in a way that brought out the poetry in American speech.” ⁠
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Take a moment to listen to one of her nature poems, ‘The Morning on the Mountains’.⁠
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🎤: Nia McAllister

Let’s kick off BHM with some Black joy in nature

Let’s kick off BHM with some Black joy in nature 🪴🌍✨ ⁠
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As we enter this month, we’re not just learning from the past, but also looking to the future. What lessons from our history can help us craft Black futures filled with joy, healing, and liberation? ⁠
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We just dropped a bunch of new stories as part of our ‘Liberated Futures’ collection to help us answer that question. The collection explores Black land histories and our current work to build and imagine a healthy, just, and sustainable world — both now, and in the future. These pieces range from a reflection on the revolutionary nature of gardening to climate fiction stories to a conversation with the godfather of the environmental justice movement. ⁠
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Read the collection at www.earthincolor.co (or visit the link in our bio 👀)

We ate good this year 😋🍅🥬🌽⁠ ⁠ Find

We ate good this year 😋🍅🥬🌽⁠
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Find all our recipes at www.earthincolor.co/EATS⁠
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CREDITS:⁠
Indya McGuffin (@indyamc), Food Styling⁠
Justin Weathers (@thegr8justinian), Photography⁠
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Studio A La Carte (@alacarte_studio_), Styling, Photography, and Videography⁠
Talia Moore (@taamooore), Videography⁠

To all the last-minute holiday shoppers, no need t

To all the last-minute holiday shoppers, no need to sweat! Swipe for some ideas from our holiday gift guide—it’s perfect whether you’re shopping for a bookworm, an aspiring chef, or a skincare obsessive. Find more suggestions at the link in our bio 🎁🎄❄️

This year, we worked with some incredibly talented

This year, we worked with some incredibly talented photographers and illustrators to produce stunning visuals to go along with our articles, recipes, and interviews. ⁠
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Featured work from: ⁠
@allewismuseum⁠
@misstej⁠
@niabydesign⁠
@the_botanical_blasian⁠
@rawlzzzart⁠
@earthtodeja ⁠
@orbweaverrr ⁠
@nicky.j10 ⁠
Tasnia Malek ⁠
@taamooore⁠
@keishaoak ⁠
@timothypaule⁠
@lucky_peters⁠
@adventuresofnik⁠
@kelssweetie⁠
@ietef⁠
@grandmasterdara⁠
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Read the stories this art is featured in at earthincolor.co 🌍

Current mood: chilly 🥶The birds have flown s

Current mood: chilly 🥶The birds have flown south, the trees have shed most of their leaves… Cozy season has arrived ⛄️⛸🧣❄️------Slide 1: Black and white photo of a Black person watering a bunch of greens growing in a bed. The person’s left hand is reaching towards the greens, while their right hand holds the nozzle of the hose spraying water. (Photo credit: @pleasantreminder/ @wyatt_lowry)Slide 2: Photo of a Black person with locs wearing a loose-fitting white shirt and assorted bangles on their left arm holding up a large jar filled with reddish fire cider (an herbal concotion comprised of various herbs, roots, peppers, citrus, and vinegar). The person is sitting on the ground in front of a bush, wearing an all-white outfit and looking right at the camera. (Photo credit: @medimommi)Slide 3: An overhead photo of a bed of leafy greens. A Black person off-camera has kneeled down to feel one of the leaves, and their left hand is visible in the image. (Photo credit: @earth_n_magic).Slide 4: Photo of a Black person wearing a blue and white striped shirt and black pants riding atop a brown and white speckled horse. (Photo credit: @avryjxn)Slide 5: Landscape photo showing the hills and mountains of Round Bald trail (a part of the Appalachian Trail on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina) with a patch of sunlight illuminating a nearby hill and the distant mountains fading from blue to purple. The backs of two Black people wearing coats and hats are visible in the foreground of the photo. (Photo credit: @rongriswell)Slide 6: A close-up photo of a bunch of chanterelles (wild edible mushrooms) spread out on a brown surface. (Photo credit: @indyofficinalis)Slide 7: A photo of a rocky hill with assorted plants growing on it (including white sage). There is a Black person in a blue sweater and baseball cap in the foreground, looking back at the hill behind them. (Photo credit: @countrygentlemancooks)Slide 8: A photograph of a yard lightly dusted with snow. Part of an archway and assorted plants are visible in the foreground, covered in a layer of white snow but with bits of green still peeking out. (Photo credit: @mydearestgarden)

As we begin to think about the gift of giving and

As we begin to think about the gift of giving and the ways we show appreciation to our loved ones, the Earth in Color team has compiled a few of our favorite Black-owned products, businesses, and organizations that offer a range of items and experiences that connect us with the Earth. While we love all the things we’ve listed, you certainly don’t have to buy everything (in fact we don’t want you to buy everything!). This holiday season—and, really, all year long—we like to give intentionally, shop sustainably, and most importantly, support Black-owned businesses. ⁠
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Our gift guide features products from brands including @redbaycoffee, @blackgirlflorists, @yolelefoods, @ayapaper.co, @philaprint, @olaminabotanicals, @blkandgrn, and more!⁠

Put. This. On. EVERYTHING! Our simple berry compot

Put. This. On. EVERYTHING! Our simple berry compote is the perfect way to upgrade your waffles, pancakes, or oatmeal 🍓🫐 ⁠
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WHAT YOU NEED:⁠
8 ounces Berries, frozen or fresh*⁠
¼ Medium-sized orange, juiced⁠
2 Tbsp. honey or maple syrup ⁠
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HOW TO MAKE IT:⁠
Combine the ingredients in a deep pot (like a dutch oven) and bring to medium-high heat. Once the mixture is bubbling, immediately reduce to low-medium heat to softly simmer (you don’t want it to burn). Simmer for about 15 minutes or until thick. Mash to your liking and serve.
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*For the berries, we suggest mixing two or more different types of berries to vary the flavors and textures. And you can even add ginger, seeds, herbs, or cinnamon. Get creative! ⁠

Did you know that trees hibernate too? Well, *tech

Did you know that trees hibernate too? Well, *technically* it’s called seasonal dormancy, but it’s a similar process. Trees change color and lose their leaves because they’re conserving energy in preparation for the cold winter months. Swipe to get a little science-y 🍂🔬🍁

Even more reasons to support your local beekeepers

Even more reasons to support your local beekeepers 🐝🍯

Did you know you could be buying fake honey? 👀🍯 ⁠
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According to @detroithives co-founder Timothy Paule Jackson, “ninety percent of most honey that you get in big box stores is fake.” To make sure you’re getting the real stuff, he suggests checking out the nutrition label. Fake honey will have ingredients like “high fructose corn syrup, peach syrup, [and] it’ll have some type of sugar.” Avoid honey labeled as “pure” or “pasteurized,” and instead look for words like “raw” or “local.”⁠
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And with winter approaching, it’s the perfect time to stock up — not only is it full of vitamins and minerals, but real honey can also be used as a remedy for sore throats and coughs. Swipe to check out some of our favorite Black-owned bee farms and Black beekeepers selling the good stuff 🐝🍯⁠

Have you listened to the new Radicle Sounds? This

Have you listened to the new Radicle Sounds? This season’s playlist was curated by the EIC team 🎶 It’s a collaborative soundscape inspired by the writing of bell hooks, our “Touching Earth” collection, and the many ways Black folks have been (and continue to be) in community with the Earth. Swipe for the full tracklist and listen at the link in our bio 🍂

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, the swea

The air is crisp, the leaves are falling, the sweaters are sweatering. It’s peak autumn! Swipe for 🍁🧑🏾‍🌾🍄🎃——Slide 1: Photo of a Black person’s hand gesturing to a group of vibrant orange chicken of the woods mushrooms. (Photo credit: @hella_organic)Slide 2: Photo of a Black person in an all-white outfit with her back facing us and her arms extended as she walks across a sandstone formation in Nevada’s Valley of Fire state park. (Photo credit: @sofearlyss)Slide 3: Photo of a table in a greenhouse covered in squash of various sizes and colors. (Photo credit: @sarah_greenridge).Slide 4: Photo of a Black person wearing a blue beanie and jacket and laying on their back on top of a pile of greens. They are smiling and holding one pumpkin in each hand. (Photo credit: @sundanceharvest)Slide 5: Photo of a Black person’s hand holding a pomegranate that’s been broken open. (Photo credit: @krystalcmack)Slide 6: Photo of landscape of rolling hills around a body of water in the middle of fall, so the changing leaves have made the hills appear to be an orange-red color. The hiking boots and legs of the photographer are partially visible in the foreground of the image. (Photo credit: @elieoutside)

This delicious and simple recipe was created by Ja

This delicious and simple recipe was created by Jasmine Lowe (@jasminedlowe), an adventure and hike leader for @blackgirlstrekkin. Jasmine is the go-to cook for all kinds of outdoor adventures, and her flavorful dishes are proof that camping food doesn’t have to be bland. ⁠
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“When I plan a trip to the outdoors,” Jasmine writes, “I think about creating great-tasting, easy-to-prepare plant-based meals that will fit the activity.” This chili recipe is perfect for a trip into the outdoors — it’s made up of easily-transported canned food and fresh veggies and it can be served in a bowl, as a Frito pie, or even as a topping on a hot dog! 🌭⁠
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Trust us, this is the dish that you’ll want to make for your next camping trip 🏕⁠

In late August, President Biden declared a state o

In late August, President Biden declared a state of emergency in Mississippi after flooding exacerbated long-term issues with the water treatment system in Jackson, leading to a complete shutdown of the city’s water supply. Although the water was running again a couple of weeks later, this shutdown was just the latest development in Jackson’s years-long water crisis, which has had many residents relying on bottled water for drinking and cooking for decades now. ⁠
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Jackson has reportedly seen 300 ‘boil water’ advisories just in the past two years, and the majority-Black city is currently facing multiple civil lawsuits brought by water customers as well as a federal discrimination complaint from the NAACP. And although the city claims its water billing system is working properly, countless Jackson residents are now facing staggering water bills — some as high as $4,000!! — for water they still aren’t sure they can safely drink or bathe in. ⁠
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Even after the news cycle moves on, Black communities are still left to deal with the long-term effects of environmental injustice.

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