How can we work together toward a more just and equitable future? What are ways we can hold ourselves and others accountable for achieving climate and energy justice in Black & Brown communities? What can each of us do in our spheres of influence today?
On June 23, following the leak of a draft UN report warning that dangerous climate thresholds will be hit sooner than feared, over one hundred concerned citizens from Detroit and across the country registered for a virtual interactive dialogue hosted by Orlando P. Bailey with special guests:
Dr. Tony G. Reames, newly appointed Senior Advisor to the U.S. Department of Energy, Director of the Urban Energy Justice Lab and Assistant Professor at University of Michigan School for Environment & Sustainability (@tgreames)
Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, CEO/Founder of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy (@JalonneWNewsome)
"The choices societies make now will determine whether our species thrives or simply survives as the 21st century unfolds,” warned the leaked UN report.
What is Environmental Racism?
"Environmental Racism" was coined in 1982 in North Carolina by Benjamin Chavis, an African-American civil rights leader. In his youth he was an assistant to Martin Luther King Jr. who inspired him to work in the movement.
Chavis defined the term as “racial discrimination in environmental policy making, the enforcement of regulations and laws, the deliberate targeting of communities of color for toxic waste facilities, the official sanctioning of the life-threatening presence of poisons and pollutants in our communities, and the history of excluding people of color from leadership of the ecology movements.”
Disproportionate Impacts
To frame the conversation, Dr. Reames quoted a 2004 report, African Americans and Climate Change: Unequal Burden from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation:
“Where U.S. energy policy is concerned, African Americans are proverbial canaries in the mineshaft. We are on the frontline of the likely social, environmental, and economic upheaval resulting from climate change.”
“The pervasive narrative that has always bugged me is that Black Americans are at fault,” said Dr. White-Newsome. “We must acknowledge that people are not at fault; it’s the systems that have failed them.”
"When I think about racism and the environment, it's more than land, air and water,” continued White-Newsome. It's all the systems that impact social determinants of health. “We must do a racial equity analysis in all of our work.”
Urgent Action Initiatives
Dr. Reames shared several initiatives to follow and stay engaged:
Energy Equity Project - a national, collaborative journey to create a standardized framework for equity measurement, reporting, and tracking that drives clean energy investment and impact for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and frontline communities.
Justice40 - Recommendations from The Equitable and Just National Climate Forum on actions that the Biden administration should take to effectively implement the goal of targeting 40 percent of the overall climate investment benefit to disadvantaged communities.
EO 14008 - President Biden’s Executive Order On Tackling Climate Change
Breakout Dialogue Questions
What is your role in environmental equity? Where do you sit in an organization, neighborhood or community where you can make a difference? Is racial equity currently prioritized in your work?
How can we hold ourselves & others accountable for achieving climate & energy justice in Black & Brown communities?
What is one thing we can each do in our spheres of influence today?
Barriers to Equity
In breakout dialogue, participants shared where they see need for improvement:
1) Communication can cause a disconnect between utilities and communities — and even between people who work in the sector.
"We don't share the same language, so even people with good intentions aren't on the same page," said a former environmental attorney in one breakout dialogue. Things can get lost in translation agreed Dr. White-Newsome. Beyond the scientific, academic or social justice jargon, people have very different perspectives and lived experiences. Everyone must listen deeply to understand the people they serve.
2) Utility payment and cut-off processes cause added stress to people already experiencing high stress.
“The cut-off process must be looked at in a more humane fashion,” offered environmental advocate Audra Carson. Paying in cash, to a real live person, could also ease anxiety for people experiencing economic insecurity and limited digital access. Communities would have a lot better feeling in dealing with utilities if there was greater humanity.
What Accountability Looks Like
1) Listen to the community — for real.
"Active, genuine listening to community members; not just personal career advancement,” said breakout participant Dominic Bednar, who shared the importance of community-based participatory research methods for authentic engagement. "Being available to listen," even if the input is hard, shared Jennifer Lawson of DTE Foundation.
2) Respond to community feedback by providing status updates on improvements.
"Organizations are good at dodging accountability,” said Candace Miller in breakout. “There’s a lot of 'we're listening' — then somehow, the decision is made with very little reflection of what was said on the ground. And that happens time and time again."
"There is nothing worse than when you take time to fill out a survey, or make public comment, and you don’t know what happens after that,” said Dr. White-Newsome. It erodes trust and faith that improvements will be made. Her advice to institutions: 1) Acknowledge the problem; 2) Let people know what you’re doing about it; and 3) Share feedback that something is happening.
3) Advocate for reform inside institutions.
Advocate for people who don’t have a seat at the table, shared Jennifer Lawson. Pursue best practices in grantmaking, including unrestricted investments in community organizations led by people of color.
4) Name the root causes of inequity.
"There isn't a racial disparity in this country that doesn't stem from residential segregation," said Devita Davison of FoodLab Detroit, citing Harvard University Professor David R. Williams, who in his TED talk called segregation the "secret source" of inequity in the U.S.
5) Participate in democracy.
“As a Black woman, I can’t afford to tap out of the promise of democracy,” said Devita Davison. Whether it’s energy equity, climate equity, or health equity, being an informed and engaged voter, electing leaders who prioritize this, and holding them accountable for measurable action is essential.
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MADE POSSIBLE BY DTE ENERGY
Thank you to everyone who participated in this conversation! For every registered guest who participated, we are making a contribution to Detroit Hives, a Black-led nonprofit working to create sustainable communities and bee populations by transforming vacant lots into pollinator friendly spaces. Follow and support their work @DetroitHives and DetroitHives.org.