BIPOC are at the forefront of fighting to save our lives, land, and resources from the devastation of colonialism. Here is our Earth Day reading list.
Earth Day is often used as an opportunity to place the weight of the Earth’s rapidly changing climate on individuals. If we recycle and do beach clean-ups and water our plants, perhaps we’ll save the planet. The reality, however, is that climate change is not the fault of the individual; it is a result of capitalism, imperialism, and settler-colonialism. Our changing climate is a mere response to businesses privatizing our water supply; the United States government waging war on countries in the global south for oil and gas; environmental racism leading to food deserts, dying farms, and BIPOC neighborhoods ill-equipped to handle natural disasters.
At Wear Your Voice, we prioritize the voices and lives of BIPOC who have been experiencing the immediate harm of settler-colonialism since its genesis, but who have also been at the forefront of fighting to save our lives, land, and resources. Below, you can read varying essays on what climate change is, how capitalism and colonialism play a major role in it, and how BIPOC are organizing against it.
Climate Change
19 Youth Climate Activists of Color Who Are Fighting To Protect The Earth
10 Films That (Unintentionally) Have Something to Say About Climate Change
What Donald Trump’s Presidency Means for Climate Change and Environmental Justice
Colonialism and Capitalism
Words Mean Things: Understanding Colonialism
The Lasting, Racist Legacy of Colonialism on the Environment
Humans Are Not The Virus—Don’t Be An Eco-Fascist
How Thanos Fits Into Real-World Myths of Overpopulation and Scarcity
Dismantling the Ideas of “Natural” and “Wild” in the Environmental Movement
RECOMMENDED: Capitalism Is Theft: A Wear Your Voice Reading List
Race & Environmental Justice
The Price Increase for National Parks is Another Form of Environmental Racism
How Environmental Racism Affects Indigenous Communities in the USA
Yes, Environmental Racism is Real and It Is Devastating.
These Muslim Groups are Caring for the Environment as Part of Their Faith
If You Care About The Environment, Then You Should Care About Black Lives
Why Black People Will Lead the Food Sovereignty Revolution
Sustainability
8 Reasons These Hobbity Earthships Might Lead to a Promising Future
Part One: Black-Owned Urban Farms in Atlanta
Part Two: Black-Owned Urban Farms in the DMV