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This book follows the historical trajectory of African Americans
and their relationship with the Mississippi River dating back to
the 1700s and ending with Hurricane Katrina and the still-contested
Delta landscape. Long touted in literary and historical works, the
Mississippi River remains an iconic presence in the American
landscape. Whether referred to as "Old Man River" or the "Big
Muddy," the Mississippi River represents imageries ranging from the
pastoral and Acadian to turbulent and unpredictable. However, these
imageries-revealed through the cultural production of artists,
writers, poets, musicians, and even filmmakers-did not reflect the
experiences of everyone living and working along the river. Missing
is a broader discourse of the African American community and the
Mississippi River. Through the experiences of African Americans
with the Mississippi River, which included narratives of labor
(free and enslaved), refuge, floods, and migration, a different
history of the river and its environs emerges. The book brings
multiple perspectives together to explore this rich history of the
Mississippi River through the intersection of race and class with
the environment. The text will be of great interest to students and
researchers in environmental humanities, including environmental
justice studies, ethnic studies, and US and African American
history.
This book follows the historical trajectory of African Americans
and their relationship with the Mississippi River dating back to
the 1700s and ending with Hurricane Katrina and the still-contested
Delta landscape. Long touted in literary and historical works, the
Mississippi River remains an iconic presence in the American
landscape. Whether referred to as "Old Man River" or the "Big
Muddy," the Mississippi River represents imageries ranging from the
pastoral and Acadian to turbulent and unpredictable. However, these
imageries-revealed through the cultural production of artists,
writers, poets, musicians, and even filmmakers-did not reflect the
experiences of everyone living and working along the river. Missing
is a broader discourse of the African American community and the
Mississippi River. Through the experiences of African Americans
with the Mississippi River, which included narratives of labor
(free and enslaved), refuge, floods, and migration, a different
history of the river and its environs emerges. The book brings
multiple perspectives together to explore this rich history of the
Mississippi River through the intersection of race and class with
the environment. The text will be of great interest to students and
researchers in environmental humanities, including environmental
justice studies, ethnic studies, and US and African American
history.
Rivers figure prominently in a nation's historical memory, and the
Volga and Mississippi have special importance in Russian and
American cultures. Beginning in the pre-modern world, both rivers
served as critical trade routes connecting cultures in an extensive
exchange network, while also sustaining populations through their
surrounding wetlands and bottomlands. In modern times, "Mother
Volga" and the "Father of Waters" became integral parts of national
identity, contributing to a sense of Russian and American
exceptionalism. Furthermore, both rivers were drafted into service
as the means to modernize the nation-state through hydropower and
navigation. Despite being forced into submission for modern-day
hydrological regimes, the Volga and Mississippi Rivers persist in
the collective memory and continue to offer solace, recreation, and
sustenance. Through their histories we derive a more nuanced view
of human interaction with the environment, which adds another lens
to our understanding of the past.
This book explores the historical relationships between human
communities and water. Bringing together for the first time key
texts from across the literature, it discusses how the past has
shaped our contemporary challenges with equitable access to clean
and ample water supplies. The book is organized into chapters that
explore thematic issues in water history, including "Water and
Civilizations," Water and Health," "Water and Equity" and "Water
and Sustainability". Each chapter is introduced by a critical
overview of the theme, followed by four primary and secondary
readings that discuss critical nodes in the historical and
contemporary development of each chapter theme. "Further readings"
at the end of each chapter invite the reader to further explore the
dynamics of each theme. The foundational premise of the book is
that in order to comprehend the complexity of global water
challenges, we need to understand the history of cultural forces
that have shaped our water practices. These historical patterns
shape the range of choices available to us as we formulate
responses to water challenges. The book will be a valuable resource
to all students interested in understanding the challenges of water
use today.
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