Racist Trees

Overview

Is it possible for a tree to embody racism? This question sparked considerable discussion a few years back, even making its way to Fox News. The controversy revolved around a line of tamarisk trees lining a vast golf course in Palm Springs, which effectively separated the Crossley Tract neighborhood. This area, historically significant for its Black community, is named after Lawrence Crossley, one of the earliest Black residents to establish roots in what was largely a white tourist haven, built on land originally belonging to Indigenous peoples over a century ago.