1. The Misconception of Black
Environmentalism: African-Americans
Speak Out On Earth Day
Written by Kezia Williams
The common misconception that African-Americans do not care
about environmentalism is not only erroneous but a gross
misrepresentation of the overwhelming role African-Americans play
in protecting this planet. Traditionally stereotyped as caring more
about civil rights and community activism, the Black voice in the
environmental conversation has often been subjugated and
silenced both intentionally and unintentionally. However, the tide is
beginning to turn in the 21st century as a new crop of young
philanthropists emerge as powerhouse players in the green space.
Lending their voice to important issues such as farming, recycling,
and climate change, they are proving what statistics already tell us:
Blacks role in the protecting the environment has always been on

2. par with other racial groups – specifically over the past two
decades.
April 22, 2013, marks International Mother Earth Day most
commonly known as Earth Day. This day was conceptualized by
John McConnell in 1969 and founded (again) by Senator Gaylord
Nelson in 1970 who popularized it as a national movement and
environmental awareness campaign. Since Earth Day’s
inception, approximately 1 billion people in 192 countries have
participated in celebrations designed to demonstrate support for
environmental protection.
However, despite the movement’s success at being able to mobilize
one billion people to speak up in support of Earth Day, one voice
and major contributor to the important environmental conversation
is often not heard: the Black voice. Ten years ago Paul Mohai,
author of “Dispelling Old Myths: African-American Concern for
the Environment,” found that Black people are more likely than
White Americans to make lifestyle choices that help protect the
environment in three categories: buying pesticide-free foods (37
percent of Black people vs. 29 percent of Whites), consuming less
meat (16 percent of Black People versus 10% of Whites) and driving
less (44 percent of African-Americans versus 64 percent of Whites).
Though this report was published nearly a decade ago, this study
validated that Black people were actively participating in making
decisions that were good for this planet despite living in conditions
that were detrimental to their health. In other words, despite living
in communities with high noise levels, abandoned homes, trashy
streets and pest-infested living environments – which 26 percent
of African-Americans listed as top environmental problems facing
their communities versus 3 percent of Whites – Black people have
still continued make decisions that positively affect their local
environments. Their actions to address theses issues have taken
place outside the normal “green activist” channels, however, with
most African-Americans choosing grassroots level involvement
versus formal participation in formal environmental groups like the
Sierra Club of World Wildlife Fund.
Bottom line is Mohai’s report proved Black people care about the
Earth over 13 years ago, but recent statistics still show the
misconception that Black people are not “green-minded” persists.
In a report entitled, “Within Mainstream Environmentalist Groups,

3. Diversity is Lacking,” Washington Post recently profiled Fred
Tutman, one of 200 riverkeepers in the world who is African-
American. As a professional environmentalist, Tutman recognized
there were not many environmentalists that looked like him. A
representative from Chesapeake Bay Foundation agreed stating “the
environmental movement has a bit of a reputation as being a wealth
white community.” The word “bit” is an understatement. With the
African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA) reporting 69
percent of environmental organizations refusing to report the
number of minorities employed within their ranks, it’s no wonder
Tutman feels there are so few black professional environmentalists.
Tutman’s sentiments and the lack of reporting received by the
AAEA further validate Mohai’s point, Black participation in the green
movement takes place in non-traditional spaces. Black community’s
significant contributions toward protecting this earth is not being
done as members of national and international environmental
organizations, but that does not mean nothing is being
accomplished.
My grandmother used to tell me that closed mouths don’t get fed,
she is right. She was also right when she said closed mouths don’t
get heard. To shed light on the African-American contribution to
the Green movement, a new crop of African-American young
philanthropists have emerged to contribute and speak out about
the active role the Black community is playing in
environmentalism. Bryant Terry has published several
cookbooks and hosts a web series that raises awareness about the
negative impact the industrial food system has on health and the
environment. Quentin James, a young African-American millennial
is the National Director of the Sierra Club Student Coalition and has
worked tirelessly to make being environmentally conscious sexy.
There is also Kari Fulton, an African-American youth campaign
coordinator for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change
Initiative who has worked with the United Nations to increase
students of color at their climate change summit. Finally, African-
American young philanthropists have prioritized environmentalism
as a charitable priority with donors like Daphne Charles and Elda
Auxiliaire currently fundraising a Giving Circles Project with
Capital Cause for the Institute for Student Health. Their $2,000
financial contribution will ultimately enable 25 children in

4. Washington, DC’s Ward 5 to grow their own community gardens
and learn healthy eating habits.
Terry, James, Fulton, Charles and Auxiliare represent five of many
young, Black voices who are advancing the green movement and
shattering the misconception that Black environmentalists don’t
exists and that the African-American community isn’t “green-
minded.” Their worthwhile acts – representative of a preexisting
active Black movement in Green space, even in the most poverty-
stricken spaces - serve to amplify the African-American
environmental voice in such a way that it becomes respected
among so many other voices.