I am writing this as a placeholder for the fuller review that I plan to provide. I've been deluged with things to read and have had to put this one on the back burner, but it does seem like a book that takes an interesting angle on the subject of poverty and one that is written in a way that I am likely to find compelling. ( )

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 ( )

"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. ( )

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. ( )

Hits close to home in a few ways. 'Thems my people', and we moved to the soggy Washington from the Midwest over ten years ago now.

I am glad my infrequent and small contributions to the Poor People's Campaign did some good.

I remember our first drive to the Pacific Coast, and passing through Hoquiam and Aberdeen for the first time. It was like a time machine to The Great Depression, and suddenly Nirvana and Kurt Corbain made a lot more sense.

Cedar lays it all out here. They are at their best when relaying what they saw and experienced. Their repeated attempts at a grander, historical explanation of how we got here were repetitive and ultimately fell flat.

Worth the read for the first-hand reports of our struggle. Thank you, Cedar. ( )