The histories of trees in America are also the histories of Black Americans. Pecan trees were domesticated by an ens laved African named Antoine\; Sycamore trees were both havens and signpost s for people trying to escape enslavement\; Poplar trees are historically associated with lynching\; and Willow Bark has offered the gift of medicin e. These trees\, and others\, testify not only to the complexity of the Bl ack American narrative but also to a heritage of Black botanical expertise that\, like Native American traditions\, predates the United States entir ely. In \;When Trees Testify\, award-winning plant biologist Beronda L. Montgomery explores how seven trees\, along with the cotton shr ub\, are intertwined with Black history and culture. She reveals how knowl edge surrounding these trees has shaped America since the very beginning. As Montgomery shows\, trees are material witnesses to the lives of enslave d Africans and their descendants. Combining the wisdom of science and hist ory with stories from her own path to botany\, Montgomery talks to majesti c trees\, and in this unique and compelling narrative\, they answer. Regis ter today for this insightful discussion about Black history and botanical mastery. \;
\nAbout the Author: \; Beronda L. Montgomery\, PhD\, is a writer\, researcher\, and scholar who pursues a common theme of understanding how individuals perceive\, respond to\, and are impacted by the environments in which they exist. Her primary laboratory-based resear ch has been focused on the responses of photosynthetic organisms (i.e.\, p lants and cyanobacteria) to external light cues. Additionally\, Beronda pu rsues this theme in the context of effective mentoring and leadership of i ndividuals\, and the role of innovative leaders in supporting success. Ber onda is author of two books \;When Trees Testify: Science\, Wisdom \, History\, and America&rsquo\;s Black Botanical Legacy \;(2026\ , Henry Holt and Co.) and \;Lessons From Plants \;(2021\, Harvard University Press).
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