This article looks at how natural history—the close observation of organisms in their natural habitats—has long been central to ecology but also carries a deep history of racism. It explores how early European scientists linked human differences to the environment in ways that placed Europeans at the top of a racial hierarchy. This thinking fueled colonialism, justified slavery, and dismissed the ecological knowledge of non-Europeans. The authors highlight examples of Black ecological knowledge that developed under and in resistance to slavery, and they argue that recognizing and including their knowledge can make modern ecology more inclusive and effective. To learn more, click here.
