Gay Rebel Scum

When I saw that one of the prompts was "goldenrod," I knew that I'd end up recommending one of my favourite essays from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer!

I could have sworn that I saw it published on its own somewhere online, but I'm afraid it looks like you will have to acquire the book to read it. If it's not at your library (I highly recommend the audiobook, which is read by Kimmerer herself), archive.org does have a scan! It starts on page 39.

Dr Kimmerer is a Powatomi botanist and poet, and her book blends modern science, knowledge passed down via her indigenous heritage, and stories from her remarkably interesting life. Everyone I have recommended this book to has come out of it with a different take away. If you've read it, I'd love to hear you thoughts as well!

"Asters and Goldenrod" is an essay about racism in "Western" science, but not in the way that we usually think of "scientific racism." When Kimmerer first begins her botany programme, she tells her professor that she wants to learn why asters and goldenrod look so beautiful together. Her professors laugh this off as the frivolous interests of a silly young girl, and I think it highlights a fundamental issue with mainstream science. Kimmerer's question isn't just about her two favourite flowers, she wants to understand their relationship to each other and to herself. While science has gotten better about understanding ecology in the last few hundred years, I think we as "Westerners" (to the extent that the term means anything) tend to forget that we're also part of the ecosystem. We need these different perspectives in order to better understand our world, and I found it extremely upsetting that Kimmerer's professors didn't foster that curiosity.

Kimmerer then goes on to answer her question, and the answer takes her across multiple disciplines, all woven together in her stunning prose. This book will make you feel things about plants that you did not know were possible to feel about plants.

Goldenrod season is soon upon us in my little corner of the world, and every time I see them in bloom, I try to keep an eye out for their little purple companions. I think Kimmerer has really helped open my eyes to the beauty of the natural world around me. I hope her work will spark a similar love for you as well.