Have you ever hugged a tree? Or more likely, have you ever been told to go outside and “touch grass?” On a daily basis, we interact with the natural environment around us in countless ways, yet these interactions are rarely given much thought.
“My interaction and exchanges with plants and trees,” writes author Beronda Montgomery, “[are] about my reciprocal engagement with the essence of these living beings with whom I share a space, history and hopefully a future.” The intentional and respectful nature of Montgomery’s interactions with her surroundings is something we can all aspire to have.
Beronda L. Montgomery, author of When Trees Testify, visited Wellesley’s campus this past Thursday, Feb. 12, to engage in a book club discussion as part of Wellesley’s lineup of events celebrating Black History Month. The group of students met in Harambee House, a place that has served as a cultural center and safe space for Black sibs at Wellesley since the late 1960s.
Led by Assistant Teaching Professor in Writing Fiona Maurissette, the students and Montgomery had a lively conversation about the Black experience as seen through a botanical lens. While the book itself mainly focused on the Black experience within the United States, students contributed international perspectives and anecdotes, allowing for a conversation filled with learning, mutual understanding and shared laughter.
A key theme of the discussion, and of the book itself, was intent versus impact — and how good intentions don’t negate or justify a negative impact. Students spoke about the different ways they have been affected by others because of their race, and how different parts of Montgomery’s book prompted them to reflect on these experiences.
Montgomery spoke on her experience as a Black botanist and how she reckoned with the traumatic history of Black Americans with this career path. As she writes in her book, Black Americans reclaiming their botanical expertise is an “essential part of…fully embracing [their] bountiful and full history and legacy in America.” She goes on to say that though she is a pioneer in botanical leadership spaces, she believes that “being a pioneer is overrated,” because it “speaks to progress denied, delayed or unrecognized.”
The book was interspersed with personal anecdotes from her childhood, including memories of her grandparents and parents, as well as incidents she personally experienced. This served to remind the reader that the harm caused by the enslavement of Black people did not quickly erase following emancipation — its ripple effects continue to carry through generations.
The meeting transitioned into an informal luncheon and chat, where Montgomery got to know the students holistically — asking questions about their majors and study-abroad experiences. She took the time to sign books for every person and take photos with those who wanted them, showing how her care for the space around her is not limited to plants and trees, but to truly every living being that she comes across.
When Trees Testify is a highly recommended read for anyone who is passionate about the intersection between trees, nature, the environment and the Black experience in America. Moreover, it is an important read for anyone who cares about their surroundings and the people around them.
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