I found this book fascinating - as someone who is invested in fighting climate change, I was eager to dig in!

This book is really a collection of essays from the author, who grew up in Alabama. She explores the impact that climate change has on Black rural communities, which are often overlooked and underserved. Coleman Flowers really took me on a journey and helped me gain more insight and a deeper understanding of the ways that systemic racism impact access to sustainable farming practices for rural Black communities.

I would definitely recommend this book. Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for an advance copy of this audiobook.

"In the darkest of times, hope is still possible. Indeed, it is essential."
-Catherine Coleman Flowers, Holy Ground

Because she is such a prominent figure in environmental justice advocacy, Catherine Coleman Flowers has been one of my to-read authors for quite some time. And let me tell you this: she did not disappoint! _Holy Ground_ is a compelling and deeply personal exploration of how race and socio-economic status, among other factors, shape one's access to a clean, healthy, and safe life. In particular, this book features in-depth discussions of how systemic neglect disproportionately affects marginalized communities, intertwined with success stories that offer glimmers of hope throughout.

The author's thorough depiction of intersectionality is the book's greatest strength. Many of the essays in this book either feature or tie back to Flowers' hometown in Lowndes County, Alabama, and she paints a detailed picture of the diverse community of inhabitants. Different races, socio-economic statuses, religious beliefs, genders, and political views make for a vibrant community -- and difficulties regarding inequality and progress. As someone with an Environmental Sciences degree, I am familiar with discussions of these topics. However, _Holy Ground_ provides the most comprehensive and human-centered exploration I have encountered. For perhaps the first time, these concepts feel fully fleshed out, tangible, and urgently pressing.

"The significance here is that a progressive senator and an extreme right-wing senator worked together in common cause for rural sanitation."
-Catherine Coleman Flowers, Holy Ground

Perhaps one of the most surprising—and at times, uncomfortable—aspects of the book is Flowers’ ability to find common ground across political ideologies. She praises politicians on both the left and right for their efforts in tackling sanitation inequality, a rare issue that seems to transcend party lines. While this bipartisan approach can feel unfamiliar and challenging, it underscores an important message: effective activism often requires working with people whose beliefs may not align entirely with our own. Flowers does not compromise her progressive stance but instead demonstrates how collaboration can lead to real, tangible change. Her approach is a testament to the idea that solutions to pressing social issues should not be hindered by political divisions.

Speaking of uncomfortable aspects of this book, Flowers includes many religious references and weaves her Christian viewpoint throughout several of her analyses. While this perspective does not appeal to me on a personal or spiritual level, I still believe that it adds depth to her arguments. Combining a sense of morality into our discussions of activism invokes a deeply human imperative to care for one another, and this viewpoint is one that I see echoes throughout a lot of environmental activism. Whether this morality comes from a religious base or not, it is always refreshing to see prominent activists advocating for community support. Flowers' explicitly Christian perspective will appeal to a large audience, even if it does not touch me personally.

If I have any critiques of _Holy Ground_, it is in the pacing. While compelling from the start, I found myself a good 30-40% into the book before any themes began to tie together into a more cohesive picture. Before that point, the essays felt almost entirely separate from one another. While this approach works in many cases, I knew that the essays in this book were meant to be more cohesive. And they were; it just took a long time for the strings to connect.

"The will to change is a renewable resource."
-Catherine Coleman Flowers, Holy Ground

As an environmentalist myself, I found this book to be insightful and informative in a way that is both refreshing and deeply meaningful. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about environmental justice, public health, or activism, specifically in the American South. I personally will be seeking out more of Catherine Coleman Flowers' works and writings in the future.

A huge THANK you to Spiegel and Grau for the chance to read Holy Ground by Catherine Coleman Flowers.
What a poignant and relevant book as we enter the 2nd week of the horrendous new administration. This book has so many elements that highlight the problems our country is faced with, including climate change and equitable access to clean, safe, sanitary water and environments. She addresses how that plays into systemic racism across the nation, and across the globe.
The author is a Christian activist who reminds us that we are all interconnected, and that we each have a moral obligation to not give up hope. We all must do our part by remembering our ancestor's histories, recognizing histories' mistakes, staying informed and moving forward with change. It is crucial for our children and their futures.
I loved this book. It gave me a perspective I think we all need to cling onto right now.

The deeply impressive Flowers presents us in her second book with essays on social justice and environmental action, based on her deep roots in Alabama and the community environmental activism she was already doing with particularly sewerage equality. Did you know that 18 per cent of households in America are not connected to the mains sewerage system? I certainly did not (when I looked it up, it is 4 per cent in the UK). This is because of both geography (a larger country with more mountainous and inaccessible regions) and inequity (the usual extra cost of being poor, with people having to sign up for septic tank contracts which are punitive and restrictive and end up with people in water debt being evicted or having their houses foreclosed on. This is a central issue she returns to, doggdly interacting across the political spectrum, finding that even the hardest-right Republicans can change and be flexible when presented with truths from their home towns.

Flowers' faith sustains her through some awful times, including a personal physical attack and the death of her mother, along with knowledge of her mother's and others' forced sterilisation. She uses new knowledge of her roots and heritages (including Indigenous American heritage) to link herself closer into the locality and the world at large, and links history, partisan politics and climate change in looking at issues like those in Jackson, Mississippi, where a Black, progressive mayor was constantly blocked by White right-wingers. Although the area under discussion is far from mine, it's a timely reminder of global issues and a source of hope that people like Flowers are fighting people's corners all over the world.

Review on my blog here: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2025/01/12/book-review-catherine-coleman-flowers-holy-ground/

A pretty good text which serves to reflect and educate on the issue of environmental racism. Because racism, sadly, affects every issue and will keep doing so for who knows how long.

very interesting and filled with discussion with political figures of all stripes, from Al Gore and Bernie Sanders to Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Holy Ground by Catherine Coleman Flowers is a set of essays on climate change that is unlike any work that I have ever ready on this topic. Ms. Flowers brings a unique and incredibly important missing perspective to this discussion, the perspective of the impact of climate change on Black rural communities. I learned so much reading this collection of essays and I highly recommend this important book. So much of the discourse on climate change comes from a privileged perspective. I sincerely hope that this impactful piece of work from the founder of the Center for Rural Enterprise and Environmental Justice will become a fixture in curriculums on climate change. This book is not just about climate change, it is about climate justice. Please read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Spiegel & Grau for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.