With a basis in environmental history, this groundbreaking study challenges the idea that a meaningful attachment to nature and the outdoors is contrary to the black experience. The discussion shows that contemporary African American culture is usually seen as an urban culture, one that arose out of the Great Migration and has contributed to international trends in fashion, music, and the arts ever since. However, because of this urban focus, many African Americans are not at peace with their rich but tangled agrarian legacy. On one hand, the book shows, nature and violence are connected in black memory, especially in disturbing images such as slave ships on the ocean, exhaustion in the fields, dogs in the woods, and dead bodies hanging from trees. In contrast, though, there is also a competing tradition of African American stewardship of the land that should be better known. Emphasizing the tradition of black environmentalism and using storytelling techniques to dramatize the work of black naturalists, this account corrects the record and urges interested urban dwellers to get back to the land.

Marge and Ted Mueller offer the most complete descriptions of more than 200 magnificent state parks in the Evergreen State in this updated guide. More than just a listing of campgrounds and picnic sites, Washington State Parks offers detailed information about camping, hiking, bicycling, nature viewing, and more. Detailed park maps help you plan your outing and choose the best campsite. Marge and Ted Mueller have explored the Northwest's mountains, forests, and waterways for more than 40 years. They are the authors of all titles in the Afoot & Afloat series.