Why Climate Change Activism Must be Anti-Racist
And why BIPOC are the most affected by environmental racism.
“The function, the very serious function of racism is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work. It keeps you explaining, over and over again, your reason for being.” - Toni Morrison
With the killing of George Floyd by the Minneapolis police, the talk on how to support the Black community has grown stronger. Business as usual is not an option anymore. We are at a point where we need change, and we are demanding it.
But how far does change go? The oppression of BIPOC goes way beyond police brutality. Police reform is only one of the things that needs to be addressed—and drastically changed.
Climate justice for BIPOC needs to be part of the agenda. Racism and environmental injustice go hand in hand… and it’s not something new.
It’s been around since before the abolishment of slavery, which was a time when BIPOC and Native Americans were forced to move to places that ended up being used by highly polluting industries. This caused suffering and disease to an already affected community.
What is Environmental Racism?
Environmental racism is the impact that environmental hazards and climate change have on minority groups—affecting BIPOC disproportionately.
This means minorities are more affected by global warming effects than any other community. Also, there are policies and regulations targeting these communities that are turning the places they live into waste facilities, landfills, and spaces for polluting industries. 1
This has a direct effect on the quality of the air, soil, and water that these communities have access to, which affects their health and well-being. Climate change effects like heat waves, hurricanes, cyclones, and drought are already affecting these communities too.
A recent poll by Yale Program on Climate Change Communication showed that 57% of African Americans and 69% of Latino/Hispanics were more likely to be alarmed or concerned about global warming, compared to 49% of whites.
On the other hand, whites are 27% more likely to be dismissive or doubtful about global warming, compared to 12% of African Americans and 11% of Latino/Hispanics. 2
Why are African Americans and Hispanics more concerned about global warming than whites? It’s because they experience the consequences first hand.
And not only are minorities suffering from environmental racism, they have less access to healthcare and lower-quality healthcare. We live in a country where your race or ethnicity makes you more likely to die of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. 3 Let that sink in.
How are BIPOC Affected by Environmental Racism?
There are many textbook examples of how environmental injustice affects minorities. From African Americans being five times more likely to be poisoned by lead 4 to African American children being twice as likely to develop asthma. 5
The facts are out there. Like the fact that African American women are 20% more likely to develop asthma than non-Hispanic white females. 6
Or the fact that communities with larger African American populations in New Jersey have a higher risk of dying early. Why? Because of long-term exposure to particle pollution. 7
Segregation in the USA is still happening, and it’s bringing disease, suffering, and death to the most vulnerable communities. BIPOC are sicker, and they die earlier than other racial groups—and that’s no coincidence. 2
In Flint, Michigan, a mostly Black town, there are thousands of children poisoned by lead. Thousands. This brings harmful long-term effects to their health—including behavioral problems.
To save some money, the government of Michigan decided to change the water supply of Flint from Detroit’s water system to the Flint River. This caused dangerously high levels of lead in the water they drink and bathe in.
The fact that there are children being poisoned by lead, a highly toxic heavy metal, is unacceptable. Poisoning by lead affects mainly African Americans. 8
Robert Bullard led a twenty-year study that determined “race to be more important than socioeconomic status in predicting the location of the nation’s commercial hazardous waste facilities”.
Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It’s a social, political, and economical issue. And it’s time we all stand up for equity.
What We Need to Do
First and foremost: Be supportive. Then, take action.
Environmental injustice is not the latest trend. It’s been around for decades, and it’s taking the lives of the most vulnerable people. These are a few POC doing amazing work in the fight against environmental injustice and climate change:
Dr. Anaya Elizabeth Johonson. A marine biologist, founder of Ocena Collectiv, and the non-profit Urban Ocean Lab.
Ocean Collectiv: An organization that creates solutions to preserve our oceans. Their work has the health and well-being of communities affected by pollution at its core. This organization helps save our planet, oceans, and biodiversity while protecting poor and vulnerable communities. Learn how you can take action here.
Urban Ocean Lab: This non-profit is developing solutions and policies to protect coastal cities from rising sea levels and storms. Their work aims to improve ecological health and human well-being. Support their amazing work here.
Elizabeth Yeampierre. An attorney and Climate Justice Leader. Co-chair of the Climate Justice Alliance and Executive Director at UPROSE.
Climate Justice Alliance: An organization that brings climate change activism to the next level. They focus on building communities with a regenerative and resilient economy, protecting those most affected by climate change and extractive economies. Their work is the future of our planet. Make sure you support them.
UPROSE: An organization led by women of color that fights for climate justice by promoting sustainable development, education, indigenous and youth leadership development, and community organizing. Support this Brooklyn based organization and their great efforts here.
Bryan Lee. Architect and founding organizer of the Design Justice Platform. He is the design principal at Colloqate.
Colloqate: A non-profit organization specializing in architecture, design, and community engagement. They design civic, cultural, and communal spaces for racial and social equity. Support their efforts for equity and racial justice here.
Cecil Corbin-Mark. Deputy director and Director of Policy Initiatives at WE ACT for Environmental Justice.
WE ACT: This non-profit organization ensures that BIPOC and low income residents have a healthy community to live in. They work together with these communities to create fair environmental health and protection policies and practices. Support their amazing work here.
Rev Yearwood. Minister and Community Activist. He is the President and founder of Hip Hop Caucus.
Hip Hop Caucus: A non-profit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable world for ALL. This organization links culture and policy to creating movements that impact our society positively. They’ve started movements like THINK100% and Respect My Vote. Support their efforts here.
These are only a few people and organizations that need our support.
Want to take action? Do what fits you best. If you can’t support any organization financially, support them by sharing their content, sign up for their email list, attend events, volunteer, tell your friends, and follow them on social media.
And better yet, vote for candidates who support these issues, and have a plan to take action on them. Call your representatives and let them know you care.
If these issues don’t affect you, use that privilege to demand change. Together we are stronger.
African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other minorities can’t fight this fight alone. Especially when their efforts are being constantly put on hold by racism and human rights issues.
POC are being left out of breath—by the police, by air pollution, and by racism. The right to breathe is a human right, and we must give them a breath.
Sources
Ballew, M., Maibach, E., Kotcher, J., Bergquist, P., Rosenthal, S., Marlon, J., and Leiserowitz, A. (2020). Which racial/ethnic groups care most about climate change?. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4697843
https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/omh/browse.aspx?lvl=4&lvlid=15
https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/who-is-at-risk/disparities
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/black-children-at-risk-for-lead-poisoning-_n_7672920