Big Muddy Speaker Series presents:

This original presentation took place on August 13th, 2024 in Columbia, Missouri and featured two additional videos shared by the presenter. To view the first video, click here. To view the second video, click here.

This presentation features esteemed speaker Cecilia Nadal, who shares her insights and experiences regarding the relationship between Black communities and water resources. Through personal narratives, historical context, and critical analysis, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Black individuals and communities while also embracing the rich cultural heritage and connections to our natural world.

The African diaspora historically reflects rich and diverse relationships between Black people and water. Those relationships were often defined by proximity to ocean, rivers and lakes, to spiritual practice and socio-economic factors. This session explores what those relationships have been in Africa, South and Central America and the United States. Cecilia examines how recent societal and environmental factors are redefining how Black people view the water and explore ways of maximizing the engagement of Black people with the interrelated environmental issues facing us all.