Seeking an understanding of urban African-American relationships with nature

Understanding urban African-American relationships with nature is paramount to urban landscape architectural practice especially in predominantly black cities such as Baltimore. Richard Westmacott made the first significant study of African-American gardening traditions in the rural South only a decade ago (1992). In this study, urban African-American relationships with nature were explored through in-depth interviewing.; A significant issue that came out of the interviews was the observation that older people are starting to get over the stigma of the rural South and are showing positive interest in their Southern rural heritage. Also raised was the belief that African Americans are nature lovers by experience through chosen or forced work with agriculture during post-slavery, slavery and pre-slavery in Africa. Many urban community gardeners were found to have connections to the rural South. Younger generations were seen to be disconnected both from nature and from older generations who still have knowledge of horticulture and natural medicine. This knowledge may be lost forever as these older people die out. Older men were seen as more apt to garden than women and more interested in gardening than younger men. Some urban gardens are believed to reflect unique African-American traits such as rhythm and self-expression. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...