Maintaining the Momentum: Black Environmentalists to Follow ASAP
You may have seen the popular “Environmentalists For Black Lives Matter” image shared across social media recently as thousands of environmentalists came together to support the movement. It’s important to acknowledge the intersections between racial and environmental issues— from Black communities who face disproportionate levels of water and air pollution, to Indigenous tribes opposing pipelines on their reservations— and it is crucial that moving forward, environmentalists continue to address these issues. One important way to maintain the momentum of the Black Lives Matter movement is to stay up-to-date with activists by following them on social media. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of Black environmentalists to keep you up to date:
Genesis Butler
Genesis Butler is a 12 year old environmental and animal-rights activist. She has a kind and powerful demeanor, and you can watch her speak at last year’s EMA Impact Summit here.
Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
A marine biologist, policy nerd, writer, and Brooklyn native, Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is the founder of Urban Ocean Lab, a think tank for coastal cities. She has extensive policymaking experience, ranging from her work with NOAA and the EPA, to most recently co-creating the Blue New Deal.
Karrueche Tran
Karrueche Tran is an activist and actress. She is on the Environmental Media Association’s Board of Directors and uses her platform to advocate for racial, social, and environmental justice and promotes wellness.
Van Jones
Van Jones also serves on the Environmental Media Association’s Board of Directors in addition to his career as an American news commentator, author, and non-practicing attorney. You may recognize him from CNN or social media posts educating the public about a variety of issues ranging from environmental justice to the disproportionate effects of coronavirus on communities of color.
Maya Penn
You probably recognize Maya Penn from our own Instagram, or possibly her extensive media appearances, including her TED Talk. Maya uses her talent to design sustainable clothing and she uses her platform to speak out against racial and environmental injustice.
Leah Thomas
Leah Thomas is an intersectional environmentalist, meaning she advocates for both the protection of people and the planet. She has a hip, modern approach to activism, such as working out with her plants and writing about environmentalism for outlets like Vogue.
Jaden Smith
As an Environmental Media Association Executive Board Officer, musician, and public figure, Jaden Smith is a role model for his 15 million Instagram followers. Jaden is also a philanthropist and entrepreneur who has teamed up with Drew FitzGerald to create JUST Water and 501cTHREE, the former being a sustainable water company, and the latter donating water boxes that provide clean water to communities in need.
“You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them,” late environmentalist Wangari Maathai once said. There are many amazing Black activists catalyzing change across the world at the grassroots level, and we encourage you to also follow local organizers and other activists in addition to the people mentioned in this article. Social media is a critical tool to stay informed, and we hope that by staying connected to the Black Lives Matter movement, the dialogue and fight for racial justice continues.