Last week we mentioned the importance of recognizing the inherent racism in the environmental movement. We want to continue that discussion today with some reasons why it’s important to pay attention to issues of social justice AND environmental justice at the same time, and to give some actions to take right now to start learning how to really do that and make change.
One of the most important ways to do this? Listen to BIPOC voices. They are out there, they have been there, and they have been largely ignored despite being the people most likely to deal with the effects of climate change.
““The people who are feeling the worst impacts of climate, their voices have got to be heard.”
— https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/03/climate/black-environmentalists-talk-about-climate-and-anti-racism.html
This study shows that BIPOC are more likely to care about climate change and more willing to do something about it, but still most environmental spaces are white-led because of their ease of access to funds and resources. There could be a multitude of reasons why Black and Indigenous People of Color are left out of the discussion, but this article shows how Black climate scientists are having their efforts derailed by racism.
Below are some Black-led environmental organizations to look into and support, as well as some Instagram accounts of Black environmentalists to learn from and follow.
- https://outdoorafro.com/about/
- http://www.phillyurbancreators.org/whatwedo
- https://urbanhabitat.org/resources
- http://www.greenworker.coop/
- http://be-leaders.org/?page_id=9855
Instagram:
- @greengirlleah
- @ruemapp
- @zerowastehabesha
- @mikaelaloach
- @she_colorsnature
- @ayanaeliza
- @hood_naturalist
- @wastefreemarie
- @heyashleyrenne
- @domiquedrakeford
- @whitneyrmcguire
- @thatcurleytop
- @indyofficinalis
- @consciousnchic
- @sustainablystudious
- @tiffanyalex_
- @emslademondson
- @danniwashington
- @climatediva
- @jhanneu
Happy Juneteenth to everyone tomorrow!