In an effort to save the planet, we as a society have been overlooking the systemic effects on marginalized communities, a phenomenon known as environmental racism. The conservation movement is rooted in racism and we still have a long way to go to fix it.
Environmental racism, a term coined by African American civil rights leader Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. in 1982, refers to “the systematic exclusion of minorities in environmental policy making, enforcement, and remediation.”
Watch the following videos to learn more about the history of environmental racism and environmental justice:
And watch this video to learn about John Francis, AKA the Planet Walker, an environmental activist making a difference today:
