Moving Forward: Adopting Intersectional Climate Justice
The environmental justice movement was started by a Black woman, Hazel Johnson, in defense of her [largely Black] community. However, somehow, the most public and vocal aspects of the movement have been co opted by white environmentalists. The message of the environmentalism has, in fact, largely departed from addressing the injustices suffered by specific socioeconomic groups as a result of the climate crisis. Instead, they have begun to focus on preserving wildlife and “Saving the Earth” -- which are important issues, but completely fail to address the suffering that communities of color have suffered as at the hand of white capitalist colonizers. (Melosi) In an ideal world, our society would be able to address the fact that capitalism lies at the center of all oppression of marginalized groups. In this ideal world, we would be able to eradicate capitalism and its resulting oppressions -- we could move forward to adequately addres...
