Untold Stories of the Conservation Movement: Race, Power, and Privilege

Racism, sexism, and social class discord have been a part of conservationism and environmentalism since the dawn of these movements. However, most accounts of the conservation movement are filled with stories of wealthy white males protecting nature. The stories of wealthy white females are infrequently told, and the lives and contributions of working-class white males and females, as well as people of color, are usually ignored.  Yet, gross social inequalities and discrimination are commonplace in the movements.  This talk explores racial and power dynamics in the history of conservationism/ environmentalism.

Dorceta Taylor will be in conversation with Emily Polk, Advanced Lecturer in Stanford’s Program in Writing and Rhetoric. This talk is part of the Center's Arrow Lecture Series on Ethics and Leadership. The series honors the late Nobel Laureate Kenneth Arrow, the Joan Kenney Professor of Economics and Professor of Operations Research, Emeritus.

Dr. Dorceta Taylor is a professor at the Yale School of the Environment.  Prior to that she was a professor of environmental sociology at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) for 27 years.  She was the James E. Crowfoot Collegiate Chair and the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at SEAS. She also holds a joint appointment with the Program in the Environment. Taylor is the former Field of Studies Coordinator for SEAS’ Environmental Justice Program and a past Chair of the American Sociological Association’s Environment and Technology Section.  Professor Taylor received PhD and master’s degrees from the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies and the Department of Sociology at Yale University in 1991, 1988, and 1985.