The Botanical Gardens is currently suffering from a wicked problem. A societal or cultural issue is classified as “wicked” when it cannot be addressed due to a lack of clarity or understanding, a multitude of individuals and perspectives, a significant financial burden, or a connection between the issue and other issues. Conversely, an easy fix is a solution that has a direct and immediate effect but may not address the root cause of the issue.
Having a vague problem definition is one of the main characteristics of our wicked problem. The lack of diversity in attendance at MOBOT Gardens may be attributed to the complex history of the organization, which was founded on the foundation of slavery. For a long period, minorities were not allowed to take part in the gardens. Henry Shaw, the organization’s founder, did not wish for the garden to be accessible to all. This lack of acknowledgment of the past demonstrates how the issue has been overlooked for an extended time. By encouraging conversations about the history of MOBOT and telling the true stories of the people who built the gardens, it is possible to create a sense of belonging and a sense of progress toward diversity.
In this image this is a picture of MOBOT's founder Henry Shaw.
An undefined solution is the second characteristic of our wicked problem. When confronted with the wicked problem, MOBOT has adopted many strategies to address it. In the issue of the horrific past, the data about enslaved individuals Shaw can be found through archival sources, financial statements, census records, newspaper articles, and an initial draft of the Shaw will. Overall isn’t one definite solution to solve our wicked problem, but there are many ways we can improve.
Missouri Botanical Gardens in the 1800s
When it comes to wicked problems there is typically no endpoint in sight. Wicked problems never have a final solution because there is always something that can be improved. At MOBOT they have pages of archives that have been converted from the past for research. They study the history of the garden to look at the issues of the past and how they can be improved and changed in the future.
The fourth characteristic is irreversible. The history at MOBOT cannot be reversed but it can be acknowledged. Having the Shaw House Museum, events, and displays help encourage conversations. The fact that MOBOT was built on the backs of slaves, and it hasn’t been mentioned until recently is the problem. Now our partners are trying to make up for lost time by having a museum exhibit for example. It has been closed since 2020, but they do have plans on reopening with the hopes that it tells the untold stories of the enslaved. I look forward to working with our partners in creating and improving this exhibit.
Our problem is unique in the fact that the main issue isn’t happening right now. The fact that Henry Shaw owned slaves and MOBOT was built by them doesn’t inherently affect the present now (which is what some might say). This past, however, is the PROBLEM and is part of the Westernized/colonial racism that still affects herbaria today. MOBOT is currently trying to combat that by having information about the history of Henry Shaw and the troubled past. This at least shows that there is effort being shown to the public from the garden that is still a little lackluster. Hopefully, with our help, we can expand on this history and perhaps give a deeper and less Western view of herbaria.
All in all our problem is very complex and needs to be addressed now. MOBOT can’t change their past but they can continuously improve the future. The botanical gardens need to feel welcoming and open to all, and I think our partners could agree to that. Taking a broader look at the way they categorize plant specimens, encouraging more diversity in the herbarium, and acknowledging the past are great first steps.