Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A Black American Earth Day… (Enviromental racism?)
Thy Black Man ^ | April 24, 2011 | Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

Posted on 04/24/2011 1:56:08 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Forty-one years ago, Earth Day was established by the global community and now literally hundreds of millions of people throughout the world will celebrate Earth Day on April 22.

For Black Americans and millions of people of color, Earth Day 2011 should be both a day of celebration and rededication to the struggle to free our communities from the devastating toxicity of environmental injustice. Going “green” should not be reduced to a popular fad or to something that just sounds progressive or cool.

Do something

The official theme – “Earth Day 2011: A Billion Acts of Green” – encourages people everywhere to take the time to do an act of environmental service and advocacy that will contribute to improving the quality of life for all living things on earth. That is a good achievable goal worthy of our support and involvement.

A “Black American Earth Day” should be a day of solidarity with all people, but in particular with other people of color, who like Black Americans are disproportionately exposed to environmental injustices and life-threatening pollutions and toxic hazards.

These dangerous problems are local, statewide, regional, national and international. In just about every other place in America where we reside, we find ourselves disproportionately with high rates of asthma and other respiratory diseases, multiple forms of cancer, and other sicknesses that are directly related to harmful exposure to environmental hazards in the air that we breathe, as well as in the water and food that we consume.

Raise awareness

Let’s use Earth Day 2011 as an opportunity to raise more awareness in our communities about the importance of environmental concerns and issues. The health of our communities is impacted by the environment of our communities. Did you know that many of the growing lists of so-called “learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community maybe environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning and other toxic substances laced in many of our neighborhoods?

The overall quality of life in Black America can be and should be improved if we all become more conscious and involved with understanding the importance of demanding and adhering to environmental justice.

The United Nations in 2009 established April 22 as “Mother Earth Day.” The first Earth Day was in the United States back in 1970 organized by U. S. Senator Gaylord Nelson from Wisconsin. Over the years, Earth Day has grown into a worldwide observance and celebration. In the early 1980s, the environmental justice movement evolved, led by African-Americans in North Carolina and in other states who saw the vital necessity to stand up and speak out against the growing evidence of environmental racism and injustice.

The time is now

A Black American Earth Day should be a day set aside for grassroots organizations and community leaders to mobilize and organize around all the environmental issues that continue to impact the quality of life and future of our children and communities.

There should be a sense of urgency in 2011. With all the budget cutbacks at the local, state and federal levels, the last thing that we need is for African-Americans to become more exposed to environmental hazards because of the lack of funding or from the cutting of budgets in the areas of public health and environmental protection.

The hip-hop community appears to be more environmentally conscious as youth activists are raising their voices in support of Earth Day activities. In the South Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop culture, one of the most effective grassroots environmental groups is named “Sustainable South Bronx” led by young community leader Majora Carter. On “Greening The Ghetto,” Ms. Carter stated innovatively, “Say it loud, I’m Black, green and proud!”


TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: blacks; earthday; environment; racism
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
Funny, no mention of Van Jones or Mr. Obama.
1 posted on 04/24/2011 1:56:11 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Translation: Give us Obama money!


2 posted on 04/24/2011 1:58:48 PM PDT by whitedog57
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
"A Black American Earth Day should be a day set aside for grassroots organizations and community leaders to mobilize....."

With Zer0's price of gas these days, it's tougher to mobilize than it used to be a couple of years ago.

3 posted on 04/24/2011 1:59:28 PM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

>Did you know that many of the growing lists of so-called “learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community maybe environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning and other toxic substances laced in many of our neighborhoods? <

Huh? I thought it was simply whitey’s fault.


4 posted on 04/24/2011 2:01:50 PM PDT by max americana (FUBO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I feel nothing but contempt.


5 posted on 04/24/2011 2:04:44 PM PDT by ClearCase_guy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
“learning disabilities” that affect too many of the children in the Black American community may be environmentally related to exposures from lead poisoning

Yup, there's far too much lead poisoning going on in the black community.

6 posted on 04/24/2011 2:07:10 PM PDT by umgud
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bockscar; Thunder90; Dr. Bogus Pachysandra; Normandy; FreedomPoster; Para-Ord.45; Entrepreneur; ...
 


Beam me to Planet Gore !

7 posted on 04/24/2011 2:08:25 PM PDT by steelyourfaith (If it's "green" ... it's crap !!!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I guess this means that if you are a denier and fail to dump your money into Algore’s “global warming” hoax, you are a “racist”. Nice. Wake up America!


8 posted on 04/24/2011 2:12:36 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer ("...that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,..")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

I celebrate Earth Day. I start out with a tire and Styrofoam bon-fire, and Hump Back Whale BBQ, with a clubbed baby seal white sauce and Spotted Owl soufflé.


9 posted on 04/24/2011 2:22:36 PM PDT by Wildbill22
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Green?
Black?
Which is it?
I’m confused.


10 posted on 04/24/2011 2:24:02 PM PDT by donhunt (I am sick and tired of those bastards insulting and lying to me.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Wildbill22

Don’t forget the deep-fried bald eagle. Ummm, good!

I wonder if this race-baiter has ever looked at a map of superfund sites?

I’d bet not because most of them are in areas where white folks predominate.


11 posted on 04/24/2011 2:26:05 PM PDT by 43north (BHO: 50% black, 50% white, 100% RED)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

” ... For Black Americans and millions of people of color, Earth Day 2011 should be both a day of celebration and rededication to the struggle to free our communities from the devastating toxicity of environmental injustice ...”

Pure 100% Commie class warfare BS.

Know that the Commies have landed, and are occupying very high ground. You will have to sacrifice and struggle to retain your current level of freedom over the next few years.
If you are unwilling to do so, you will lose them for certain!
I might add that RINOs are the enablers, and the CommieCrate are the “agents of change”


12 posted on 04/24/2011 2:33:29 PM PDT by J Edgar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

Green is the new black.


13 posted on 04/24/2011 2:33:33 PM PDT by matt1234 (Union rank-and-file are now dem brownshirt rank-and-file.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 43north
Don’t forget the deep-fried bald eagle. Ummm, good!

That was you???

14 posted on 04/24/2011 2:37:08 PM PDT by bigheadfred (Beat me, Bite me...Make Me Write Bad Checks)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: donhunt

Red. Definitely red.


15 posted on 04/24/2011 2:41:58 PM PDT by Gil4 (Sometimes it's not low self-esteem - it's just accurate self-assessment.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
Change the words Black Americans to White Americans and the author from Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. to Pat Buchanan.
The outrage would be deafening. The selective outrage over racism is growing old. Today we laugh at it. But tomorrow, the laughter will turn to anger and that ain't gonna be pretty.
16 posted on 04/24/2011 2:47:32 PM PDT by Tupelo (The Boudicca from Wasilla supporter)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
going green....our farmers are now growing corn for the nearest ethanol plant.....the government made it very lucrative.

Of course I don't buy beef anymore because it's too expensive....

Economic stupidity!!

17 posted on 04/24/2011 3:04:56 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: umgud
We lived in the same type of houses 60 years ago...lead water pipes, lead paint, asbestos wrapped heating pipes. Mom lived to 90, dad 78. I'm 67.

I only lived in that house for 20 years...but mom lived there for 65 years. I don't remember a young death in the neighborhood.

18 posted on 04/24/2011 3:10:36 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet
REDWHITEBLUE
19 posted on 04/24/2011 3:31:50 PM PDT by FrankR (Liberals Don't Have Scruples, Judgement or Morals...only MOTIVES.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 2ndDivisionVet

This article shows how black leaders of the civil rights era (Dr. Chavis) have been totally bought off by the Progressives. I now wonder if they EVER gave about our people, or was it all a scam from the very beginning.


20 posted on 04/24/2011 3:47:02 PM PDT by Clock King (Ellisworth Toohey was right: My head's gonna explode.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Smoky Backroom
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson