On the Treatment of Black and Brown Girls Fighting for Climate Justice
A letter to the world on not labeling Black and Brown girls fighting for their lives.
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Dear World,
Most people would be surprised to know that my writing journey began with climate activism three years ago.
I spent late nights watching documentaries on climate change and reading books in an attempt to play catch up and learn about the communities and endangered animals that were being destroyed as a result.
I would be lying if I said I didn’t lose hope in the cause especially after watching this administration strip away protections, putting the planet in a vulnerable position
As I watched photos and videos pouring out of the Global Climate Strike on September 20th, from all over the world, my heart has spiked in hopefulness.
The size of the crowds filled me up, and so did the faces of the teenage girls fighting for a chance to live in a liveable world.
By now, you’ve probably seen and heard of Greta Thunberg, the sixteen-year-old Swedish activist who began a one-person climate strike last year in front of the Swedish Parliament.
She is the mastermind behind the call to action for millions of young people from all over the world to take part in Global Climate Strike to demand governments and businesses to commit to a net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
Her ability to remain cool, calm, and collected in front of “world leaders” is telling. If that wasn’t enough, her death stare towards the biggest climate change denier in the White House put her in a league of her own.
Put simply, she is a force to be reckoned with.
After watching an impassioned speech Greta gave at the United Nations, I was overcome with emotion. Her straightforward, no holdback way of speaking was full of power. Passion. Strength. Courage and loving anger.
I then began thinking about Isra Hirsi, Autumn Peltier, and Amariyanna Copeny (also known as Little Miss Flint), young, Black and Brown girls fighting for climate justice in their own communities.
They are fighting to live in a world, that is also liveable.
A world where they have access to clean water and clean air.
A world they can share with their children and grandchildren.
Essentially, they’re fighting for a world where your grandchildren can thrive, not survive which is the path we are on.
You might think climate change is all science, but at its core, it is a manifestation of systemic racism.
Poor, people of color are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental racism.
Think about the recent hurricanes and the types of people who were affected. Hurricane Dorian dismantled the Bahamas, and Hurricane Maria shattered Puerto Rico, creating climate refugees.
People were forced to flee their native lands (if they survived) because of sudden changes in their natural environement due to extreme weather.
This is happening globally to people you and I will never meet.
Low-income areas, particularly in America, are overrun with landfills and power plants poisoning the air being breathed by the young and the old.
These same areas have water that has been injected with lead and other toxins.
Think Flint, Michigan.
It’s been 5 years and Flint, Michigan still does not have clean water.
Think Standing Rock and the Dakota Access Pipeline.
We need Greta, but we also need the Black and Brown girls fighting for climate justice at the forefront as these issues directly affect them and their communities.
The same way that you may have praised Greta for her righteous anger, the same praise should be given to the Black and Brown girls fighting for climate justice.
Allow them the space to express themselves in ways that ring true to who they are.
Give them space to take up space.
Don’t shy away if the eloquence you’ve come accustomed to in the climate activism space is not there.
Their voice matters. Their truth matters. Their truth is powerful.
Their truth will save you.
Do not refer to them as ‘angry’ and refrain from labeling them with insidious stereotypes and recognize their common humanity.
History shows us that passion and grit in white women quickly turns to anger and what is considered ‘ghetto’ in Black women.
Be conscious of how you label these young, Black, and Brown girls fighting to save our planet.
They are not sassy, nor are they firecrackers.
They are human beings with a voice.
Greta does not smile, and she is not required. Don’t expect any different from Isra or Autumn.
Or any other Black or Brown climate activist.
They do not exist to make their message palatable to make you feel comfortable.
Don’t compare Little Miss Flint to any other Black girl fighting for climate justice because Black girls are not monolithic.
Neither are Native girls.
Don’t put expectations on Black and Brown climate activists that you would never, ever consider placing on white ones.
Respect their humanity because their humanity is what will save us all.
Thanks for reading,
Renée
