Table Of ContentGod and the Green
Divide
Religious Environmentalism in
Black and White
Amanda J. Baugh
university of california press
God and the Green Divide
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support
of the Ralph and Shirley Shapiro Endowment Fund in
Environmental Studies of the University of California Press
Foundation.
God and the Green
Divide
Religious Environmentalism in
Black and White
Amanda J. Baugh
university of california press
University of California Press, one of the most
distinguished university presses in the United States,
enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship
in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its
activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and
by philanthropic contributions from individuals and
institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu.
University of California Press
Oakland, California
© 2017 by The Regents of the University of California
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Baugh, Amanda J., 1981- author.
Title: God and the green divide : religious
environmentalism in black and white /
Amanda J. Baugh.
Description: Oakland, California : University of
California Press, [2017] | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifi ers: lccn 2016017202| isbn 9780520291164
(cloth : alk. paper) | isbn 9780520291171 (pbk. : alk.
paper) | isbn 9780520965003 (electronic)
Subjects: lcsh: Environmentalism--Religious aspects—
Case studies. | Environmentalism—United States. |
Environmentalism--Moral and ethical aspects--United
States.
Classifi cation: lcc bl65.e36 b37 2017 | ddc 201/.77—
dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016017202
Manufactured in the United States of America
25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction 1
1. People, Not Polar Bears: Faith in Place’s First Ten Years 29
2. Religious Environmentalism in the City 46
3. Paths Leading to Faith in Place 61
4. Food and Environment at an African American Church 84
5. Finding Racial Diversity with Religious Pluralism 109
6. Faith in Place’s Religious Message 128
7. From Grassroots to Mainstream 148
Conclusion 168
Notes 173
Bibliography 199
Index 211
This page intentionally left blank
Acknowledgments
This book would not have been possible without the generous support
of many people. First and foremost, I would like to thank the tireless
leaders of Faith in Place, especially Clare Butterfi eld and Veronica Kyle,
without whom this project could never have materialized. In addition to
instigating the religious environmental activism that provided material
to study, they kindly gave their time and support, candidly sharing some
of their innermost beliefs and aspirations. These women made me feel
comfortable in their worlds, inviting me to visit places I could never
have found on my own (and often transporting me to those places!),
and generally made my research experience a pleasure. I am also grate-
ful to the other staff members, board members, volunteers, and partici-
pants at Faith in Place who were generous with their time and enthusi-
astically contributed to my research.
My professors and colleagues at Northwestern University guided this
project from its earliest stages. Sarah McFarland Taylor encouraged my
research from the beginning, training me in the art of fi eldwork and
reminding me of the bigger implications of my research and teaching.
Robert Orsi challenged me to push my theoretical analysis, pursuing the
diffi cult, sometimes uncomfortable questions. Sylvester Johnson helped
me navigate the complicated terrain of racial politics that was evident
throughout my fi eldwork. Cristina Traina, Henry Binford, and Michelle
Molina provided insights and encouragement. Northwestern Universi-
ty’s Graduate School funded essential travel through a Research Travel
vii
viii | Acknowledgments
Grant. This project also received generous funding from the Andrew W.
Mellon/American Council of Learned Society Dissertation Completion
Fellowship Program.
Members of Northwestern’s North American Religions Workshop
contributed compelling ideas and questions that have shaped this project.
I especially want to thank Brian Clites, Matthew Cressler, and Hayley
Glaholt. Abdoulaye Sounaye, Anne Koenig, and Abby Trollinger off ered
critical feedback, guidance, and motivation in the dissertation-writing
phase. Michal Raucher and Tina Howe provided unparalleled insight
and support throughout our days at Northwestern and as the project
developed into a book. These brilliant women also made graduate school
a pleasure. I value their lifelong friendships.
My colleagues at California State University, Northridge have also
provided encouragement and intellectual engagement. I especially want
to acknowledge Rick Talbott, Claire White, Xochitl Alviso, and Linda
Lam-Easton. Lindsay Gonzaba provided excellent assistance in compil-
ing the index. I am grateful for a wonderfully supportive dean, Eliza-
beth Say, who provided writing space, coff ee, and the best gift of all,
time to pursue my writing. I would not have been able to complete this
project without the generous funding from several CSUN sources,
including the College of Humanities, the Offi ce of Research and Spon-
sored Projects, and Faculty Development.
I’m deeply indebted to Sarah Pike for her brilliant guidance as I
revised my dissertation into this book. Sarah challenged me to employ
precision and nuance, make diffi cult decisions about content, and pur-
sue areas of inquiry that I had not previously considered. At the Univer-
sity of California Press, Eric Schmidt off ered direction and encourage-
ment as the project went through various stages of development. Thanks
also to Maeve Cornell-Taylor for her assistance in preparing the book
for production.
On a personal level, I wish to acknowledge the wonderful support of
my family. Josh Baugh and Ashley Cash have provided encouragement,
friendship, and editorial assistance. They also produced two amazing
and delightful nieces, Emma and Katelyn Baugh. My parents, George
Baugh and Alissa Levey Baugh, have been my most enthusiastic sup-
porters, always ensuring that I had the material resources to achieve my
goals and pushing me to make my mark in the world. Without my
mother’s insistence that I take Introduction to Judaism as an under-
graduate, I might never have found my way to religious studies. My
father has been a unique conversation partner as I explore the inner
Acknowledgments | ix
workings of religious worlds. He has encouraged me to fi nd a vocation
that is meaningful and rewarding, working hard but also injecting my
work with humor and play.
More than anyone else, Jason Lee has lived with the trials, tribula-
tions, and joys that accompany the academic life. He has been a won-
derful sounding board as I have tried to develop ideas, has accompanied
me on several fi eldwork excursions and conference trips, and has off ered
an impressive editorial eye. He and our son, Zachary Lee, are sources of
boundless joy and provide perspective on the important things in life.
Together they make me feel like I have it all.
