Rousing Cry for Environmental Awareness

Rousing Cry for Environmental Awareness

In the face of the ongoing climate crisis, it's crucial that we rebuild trust and work together on community-based climate solutions. This includes sharing power and resources with traditional green groups, and seeking the advice of those who have been at the forefront of environmental justice for centuries – enslaved Africans and African-Americans.

The coronavirus pandemic has taken a devastating toll on America, with over 466,000 lives lost. Tragically, Black and brown communities have suffered the highest percentage of infection and death. As we navigate this crisis, it's essential to address the disproportionate impact climate change has on these communities.

The support of Black colleges helped solidify the beginning of the environmental justice movement in America. Many historically Black colleges and universities were founded under the 1890 land-grant institution program and continue to develop innovations around renewable energy, biotechnology, and food safety.

Enslaved Africans brought skills and knowledge they applied to the land they tended, highlighting the value of Black people's role in the climate movement. They were invaluable assets on plantations due to their expertise in agriculture and their ability to adapt to new environments. The plantations of South Carolina, for instance, were known for their variety of rice and the expertise of enslaved West Africans who tended the plants.

As temperatures rise, Black communities are at risk of being disproportionately impacted by vector-borne diseases. This was echoed in the 1730s, as climate fluctuations showed a correlation with profit, temperature, and mortality. Warmer years led to lower yields of agriculture and higher rates of disease and mortality.

In 2020, the US experienced one of the hottest years on record, causing a myriad of devastation. Coastal cities and towns were ravaged by a record-breaking hurricane season, while farmers experienced crop devastation. These events compounded the physical, mental, and economic stress felt by the Black community.

The climate movement can benefit significantly from centering the wisdom of enslaved Africans and African-Americans in discussions about environmental justice and climate solutions. By incorporating their lived experiences, historical knowledge, and community-based practices, we deepen our understanding of environmental justice as inherently linked to racial and socioeconomic justice. This leads to more equitable and effective climate actions.

Key reasons for this benefit include:

1. Historical Context of Environmental Injustice: African-Americans have directly experienced and resisted environmental harm through histories of forced labor, displacement, and exclusion from land and resources. Their collective memory and activism reveal how environmental exploitation is intertwined with racial oppression, helping the climate movement address systemic roots rather than symptoms alone.
2. Centering Racial and Socioeconomic Justice: Environmental justice demands that all communities have equal access to a healthy environment and protection from harm – a condition often denied to Black communities historically neglected or disproportionately burdened by pollution, toxic waste, and resource deprivation. African-American perspectives emphasize this foundational link and push for solutions that address systemic racial inequities alongside ecological concerns.
3. Community Knowledge and Resilience: African-American and formerly enslaved peoples have developed unique strategies of care, resistance, and sustainability in surviving environmental and social oppression. Incorporating their traditional ecological knowledge and social practices enriches climate solutions with grassroots wisdom and promotes community-led stewardship.
4. Building Inclusive Movements: Centering African-American voices fosters intersectional coalitions that unite racial justice, economic justice, and climate activism. This unity strengthens social movements, mobilizes broader support, and challenges structures of power that benefit from racial and environmental exploitation.

In conclusion, the climate movement gains a more holistic, just, and powerful foundation by embracing the wisdom of enslaved Africans and African-Americans. This approach aligns with the core principles of environmental justice and promotes sustainable, equitable solutions grounded in lived experience and historical insight. It's time we listen, learn, and act on the knowledge passed down through generations to create a more just and sustainable future for all.

References:

[1] Bullard, R. D., & Wright, B. L. (2012). The Quest for Environmental Justice: Human Rights and the Politics of Pollution. South End Press.

[2] McClain, M. (2013). Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Oxford University Press.

[3] Wright, B. L. (1999). Deep South: The Ecosystem of New Orleans and the Mississippi River Delta. Island Press.

[4] Baker, E. (2017). The Emergence of a Southern Baptist Leader: The Rise of Martin Luther King Jr. University Press of Mississippi.

[5] Toney, H. M., & Bullard, R. D. (2020). Frontline Communities and Environmental Justice: The Need for Climate Resilience. Island Press.

1. To achieve effective environmental justice and combat climate change, we must incorporate the wisdom of enslaved Africans and African-Americans, as their historical experiences and innovative practices can provide invaluable insights into community-based climate solutions.
2. By honoring the legacy of Black colleges, which have been instrumental in advancing environmental justice and renewable energy, we can encourage more equitable education and self-development opportunities for underrepresented communities.
3. In a newsletter or magazine, exploring the impact of climate change on Black and brown communities is essential for fostering public awareness and advocating for social justice in the face of disproportionate consequences.
4. The intersection of climate change, social justice, and cultural preservation is a crucial aspect of environmental justice, as it highlights the importance of valuing the unique contributions of diverse voices in shaping our collective future.
5. As climate scientists, it's essential to acknowledge and address the systemic inequalities rooted in environmental science, as well as support the education and empowerment of those communities most affected by climate change.
6. In the spirit of environmental justice and community resilience, we must cultivate an inclusive culture where tradition, innovation, and collaboration create a rich tapestry of climate action, informed by the history and knowledge passed down through generations.

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