Cedar Monroe

I received a copy of this book from LT's Early Reviewer program.

Monroe grew up poor in the Pacific Northwest and after finishing at an Episcopal seminary in Boston, they returned to their home and served as a chaplain to the unhoused population occupying land along the river in Aberdeen, Washington. This book, while repetitive in places, is an important look at the intersection of race, ethnicity, powerlessness, unfettered capitalism, and how people living in poverty or on the edge of it - whether black or white, Indigenous or not, rural or urban - would be well-served to join forces to demand basic needs like health care and housing. Monroe's central thesis regarding white supremacy and poverty is an interesting one, and their voice is an important one.

3.75 stars… (más)

"Trash" is Cedar Monroe's story of the poor white people in Aberdeen, Washington, and the surrounding area. She focuses on their community on "The River" and their struggle with the day-to-day needs. As a minister she does what she can to help them out, with the means of physical survival, and with emotional and psychological support. She herself had a difficult childhood in the same community, but succeeded with becoming educated, and then she came back to do what she could to help the people in the same situation. Despite the final termination of the homeless community camp by the river, she continues to help the people there. Her analysis of the causes of the poverty and homelessness is eloquently stated and explained, that the affected people are relegated to the bottom of the capitalistic society, which values money over people's lives.… (más)

This was a stunning read, and I haven’t cried so much over a book in quite a while. The author is perfectly suited to tell this story as they grew up in this poor county in Washington and then returned there after their ordination; I’m frankly in awe of the work they did, and I learned so much here about something I’m truly not familiar with. It’s upsetting to realize that you really haven’t understood the systems when what you always thought was “poor” was probably just standard lower middle class; introduced here is the poor where there are no social services and, as the title references, these people have been thrown out as trash.… (más)