Literary Interventions in July

What are the politics of nature? Who owns it, where is it, and who is allowed in? These are some of the urgent questions explored by eleven contemporary Black writers as they examine the deep and complex relationship between land, Blackness, and belonging. 

From the legacy of stolen land and racial violence in natural spaces to celebrations of ancestral gardens, urban ecologies, and intergenerational knowledge, A Darker Wilderness reclaims and redefines the genre of nature writing. Through archival materials, personal narratives, and imaginative storytelling, the collection challenges the traditionally white space of American environmental literature.

As Sharkey writes, nature is “a relationship, a big map of interconnectedness.” The writers in this anthology embody that vision: confronting environmental injustice while also honoring survival, care, and the joy of connection with the land. 

Together, we will engage with these essays and reflect on how histories of displacement, resistance, and memory shape our understanding of nature and our place within it.

You can register for this event via mail to: mariela.n@spore-initiative.org  

The Open Reading Club is led by Mariangela Beccoi. The session will be held in English. We will support each other with translation if necessary.