as we mourn the death of #GeorgeLloyd and celebrate the life of #ChristianCooper, let us remember that these events are symptoms of a society rooted in racism.

the environmental movement is no exception. https://earther.gizmodo.com/we-belong-here-racist-central-park-video-shows-why-we-1843686473

Christian Cooper is a black birder, a rarity among the community. but black people (and POC at large) are rare in the outdoors in general. white people like #CentralParkKaren are a big part of why that's the case.

however, so is history. many national parks used to be segregated. black people were not treated with the same dignity white people were afforded.

access has a lot to do with who visits wild areas, but even in urban areas, POC + poor people are less likely to have green space close enough for them to enjoy. as for those who do, they have to be cautious. the simple act of speaking up can put them in danger.

that doesn't mean we don't belong outside: in parks, forests, mountains, and beaches. we do. but conservation + enviro groups need to do a better job at making these spaces safe for non-white people.

“It really goes back to remembering that we belong here,” @NailahBlades told @EARTH3R. “We built this country, and we deserve to be able to take part in all of the richness of life that everyone else is allowed to without being terrified for our lives
.”

wanna give a shout out to @emorwee for getting into this in today's HEATED newsletter. we need more climate journalists (especially white ones) willing to report on race and how it relates to the environmental movement at large.

/END