A soulful collection of illuminating essays and interviews that explore Black people's spiritual and scientific connection to the land, waters, and climate.

Opening --Foreword / Dr. Ross Gay -- A Watatic childhood: an introduction / Leah Penniman -- These roots run deep: a prayer of homage to our earth-listening Black elders -- Spirit -- It is time for a new covenant / Awise Agbaye Wande Abimbola, Yeye Luisah Teish, and Awo Enroue Onigbonna Sangofemi Halfkenny -- All that breathes gives praise / Ibrahim Abdul-Matin and Chris Bolden-Newsome -- Queer earth biomimicry / Toi Scott and adrienne maree brown -- Wilds -- Reading the sky / Dr. Lauret Edith Savoy, Rue Mapp, and Audrey Peterman -- So we walk / T. Morgan Dixon, Teresa Baker, and James Edward Mills -- Each one teach one / Angelou Ezeilo, Dr. J. Drew Lanham, and Dillon Bernard -- Soil -- A home in this rock / Dr. Carolyn Finney, Latria Graham, and Savi Horne, Esq. -- Rooted in the earth / Greg Watson and Pandora Thomas -- Oldways / Dr. Claudia J. Ford and Dr. Leni Sorensen -- Hope is a seed / Aleya Fraser and Ira Wallace -- Defense -- I can't breathe / Sharon Lavigne and Dr. Dorceta Taylor -- One blue planet / Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Chris Hill, JD -- Rising waters / Queen Quet and Colette Pichon Battle, Esq. -- Witness -- The earth's song / B. Anderson, Toshi Reagon, and Yonnette Fleming -- Climate griots / Kendra Pierre-Louis and Steve Curwood -- A witness people / Alice Walker and Dr. Joshua Bennett -- Closing -- Exegesis / Author and the earth -- Mama nature told me / Naima Penniman.