Juneteenth – Continued Support for Racial Justice

Last year, during the height of a pandemic that disproportionately impacted marginalized populations, a wave of calls and actions against racial inequity was renewed. AEC stood in solidarity with demands for racial justice then and continues to do so now. Though the movement has sustained momentum, it is imperative that we recognize not only the continued injustices committed in the last year, but that these injustices have deep systemic roots.

Juneteenth, a holiday marking the official emancipation of slaves on June 19, 1865, was declared a state holiday in Massachusetts last year, after widespread calls for concrete recognition. Other states had done the same prior to 2020, including Hawaii, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Beyond this, many private corporations have incorporated Juneteenth into their calendar, either through giving a day off or taking a moment of pause to recognize the painful racial history of the United States.

Environmental justice and racial justice go hand in hand. Black communities disproportionately suffer from several environmental harms including proximity to industrial facilities, power plants, and hazardous sites, exposure to emissions, and the effects of natural disasters. Due to these disparities, the Environmental Justice Movement is rooted in black history.

This Juneteenth, we at AEC want to recognize the Black Americans that are fighting for environmental justice across the United States. A recent web article by the global environmental organizing campaign Greenpeace calls out eight Black activists and their organizations for their work fighting environmental injustices:

· Savonala “Savi” Horne: Executive Director of the Land Loss Prevention Project, an organization that provides legal assistance to Black farmers and landowners in North Carolina in danger of losing their land.

· Chantel Johnson: Founder of Off Grid in Color (OGIC), an organization that fosters self-sufficiency in communities of color.

· Tanya Fields: Founder of the Black Feminist Project which centers on food justice, and economic development for underserved woman and youth of color.

· Rue Mapp: Founder of Outdoor Afro, Rue works to provide Black communities with opportunities to connect with nature and the black history tied to natural areas in the United States.

· Christopher Bradshaw: Founder of Dreaming Out Loud, an organization that strives to improve economic opportunity and access to education and a healthy environment for marginalized communities.

· Peggy Shepard: Co-Founder of WE ACT for Environmental Justice which addresses environmental protection and environmental health policy, particularly for low-income communities and communities of color.

· Jeaninne Kayembe: Co-Founder of The Urban Creators, an organization that utilizes food, art, and education to nurture resilience in the local community.

· Omar Freilla: Founder of Green Worker Cooperatives, Omar works with worker-owned green businesses to support the local economy while prioritizing democracy and environmental justice.

Our thanks to these activists and to BIPOC-led organizations for driving campaigns to depend environmental resources and the human communities that live in and rely on them. For more resources on the intersection of equity, race, the BLM Movement, and the environment, visit our resources page.