Converging stories

Converging stories

By Jeffrey Myers

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration, Jeffrey Myers reveals the hidden connections between racial oppression and environmental destruction in nineteenth-century American literature. Drawing from an era marked by intensified violence against communities of color and massive ecological devastation, Myers examines how writers of the time grappled with the understanding that white supremacy and disconnection from the natural world emerged from shared roots.

The study begins with Thomas Jefferson's complex agrarian philosophy, demonstrating how the same ideas could simultaneously support both environmental stewardship and ecological harm, democratic ideals and racist structures. Myers then applies this dual lens to beloved works, examining Henry David Thoreau's writings through a racial justice perspective while exploring Charles Chesnutt's and Zitkala-Sa's stories through an environmental framework. This innovative approach uncovers how these authors developed powerful forms of resistance against both racial and ecological domination.

The analysis extends to include Ralph Waldo Emerson, John Muir, and Willa Cather, before connecting these historical voices to contemporary writer Eddy L. Harris. Through this literary journey, Myers traces the evolution of an antiracist, egalitarian relationship with nature that challenges traditional power structures.

For readers seeking to understand how social justice and environmental consciousness intertwine, this scholarly work offers valuable insights into the spiritual and philosophical foundations that continue shaping our relationship with both human communities and the natural world.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Short (< 200 pages) (~5 hours)

📄 Length: 188 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore History and criticism
  • ✓ Explore timeless philosophical wisdom
  • ✓ Explore Environmental protection in literature
  • ✓ Explore Racism in literature
  • ✓ Explore Environmental justice
  • ✓ Explore Forests in literature
  • ✓ Explore Forests and forestry in literature
  • ✓ Explore American literature

Topics Covered

History and criticism Philosophy of nature in literature Environmental protection in literature Racism in literature Environmental justice Forests in literature Forests and forestry in literature American literature Race relations in literature Conservation of natural resources in literature Race in literature Ecology in literature Nature in literature Nature conservation Wilderness areas in literature

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