Environmental Justice is Racial Justice - and to learn where we need to go, we have to learn where we’ve been. Take #WaterActionWednesday time today to learn more about the history of the Environmental Justice movement and the systematic discrimination we need to continue to fight.
Podcast
In recognition of Black History Month, Clean Water Action features the stories of Black leaders in the Environmental Justice movement on the latest episode of our We All Live Downstream podcast.
Season 3 - Episode 1: Celebrating Black History Month
with Rev. Vernon K. Walker, MA Climate Justice Program Director at Clean Water Action and graduate student at Tufts University pursuing a Masters in Public Policy with a focus on environmental justice. Listen Here
Episode 26: Black Leaders in the Clean Water Movement
with Kjia Rivers, Policy Advocate at Community Water Center and Ngodoo Atume, California Water Policy Analyst at Clean Water Action. Listen Here
Episode 20: Black History Month - The Environmental Justice Movement
with Vernice Miller Travis, co-founder of WE ACT for NJ and Clean Water Board Member. Listen Here
Profiles
Clean Water Action is excited to recognize and uplift Black Water Champions internally and externally during Black History month. During this time of reflection on important advancements and milestones in history, we honor those who sacrificed and impacted the Black movement for justice and equality, as well as Black leaders of today.
2024 Black History Month Clean Water Champions
Omesa Mokaya
Mari Copeny
Shay Brooks
2023 Black History Month Clean Water Champions
Erga Pierrette
Lord Takim Allah
Sasha Lewis-Norelle
Ashley Richardson
Kevin Jeffery
Brenda Lee Richardson
Ngodoo Atume
Interactive Feature
“This Is Environmental Racism” - Tracing Black Environmental Justice activism history from the 80s until today through the stories from early frontline leaders, including Vernice Miller-Travis. Read More
Oral History
The event that changed the environmental justice movement forever: Thirty years later, organizers reflect on the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit. Read More
Academic Collaboration
The Michigan Conference on Race and the Incidence of Environmental Hazards in 1990 helped establish Environmental Justice as worthy of academic study. The University of Michigan would become the 1st US university with an Environmental Justice program. Read More
Timeline
To get where we need to go, we need to learn where we've been. Explore this EPA timeline of key Environmental Justice milestones & learn how trailblazing activists built networks to organize for systematic change. Learn More
Research
In 1987, the United Church of Christ published the seminal report "Toxic Wastes & Race in the Race in United States", stating that race was the best predictor of the location of hazardous waste facilities. 20 years later, UCC revisited the impact of the groundbreaking study. Read More
Stories
How Detroit’s Black leaders shaped Detroit’s environmental justice, labor movements. Read More
Thanks to many Black activists & allies organizing in their communities & beyond, Environmental Racism could not be ignored. We still have a long way to go. Continue on your own exploration of the history of the Environmental Justice movement, gain a better understanding of how we got where we are today, support organizers working today to overcome systemic racism, and commit to taking Environmental Justice action year-round.
More on Black History Month from Clean Water Action
