Abstract Summary/Description
Black women’s connection to nature dates back more than generations but centuries. It has become integral to who we are and to many has become second nature, an intuitive practice. In allowing Black women to possess power in their environments, bring beauty and sustenance into the world, and connecting to one’s ancestors, the ways in which Black women express their connections to nature serve as a form of healing. In this presentation, I will begin by discussing how Black women’s connections to nature through gardening and herbalism heal. First, I will explain how both practices serve as both self-care and a decolonial force. Next, I will explain how Black women have expressed their connections to the environment starting with enslaved women. I will include passages from a figure that embodied the power of each practice. I will highlight how gardening and herbalism allowed black women to heal themselves and others throughout history. I must note that while I use the term Black women, I specifically am referring to Black American women of African descent.
