Hi CLCV Member,  

For far too long, the white environmental movement has tried to separate
issues of race from environmental work, but we know that concern for the
Earth cannot be separated from the treatment of its people. Just as a
moving river will carry you downstream unless you fight it, an unfair
system rooted in racism will privilege whiteness unless you actively work
against it.   

[ [link removed] ]This is why we are continuing our series of emails and sharing
information on our history to ground us in our current call to action.  

We understand our country was founded on white supremacy, yet the
conservation movement has not only refused to confront white supremacy,
but  actively furthered it. While it coalesced at the start of the 20th
century, its leaders preached kinship with animal and plant life even as
they led thought leadership on dehumanizing Black, Indigenous, and people
of color – often in the same breath.      

The origins of the white-led environmental movement left little room for
people of color in leadership positions (as recently as 2014, fully 89
percent of leadership positions in environmental organizations were held
by white folks), which in turn perpetuated institutional racism and
created massive blind spots for the environmental movement. For decades,
environmentalists championed policies that ignored the environmental
realities, leadership, and needs of Black, Indigenous, and other
communities of color. Our laws, infrastructure, and advocacy ignored the
toxic air and water and lack of green space channeled into communities of
color.     

Now, as we are reminded – once again, and with deadly clarity – for people
of color, and Black Americans in particular, even the simple act of going
for a walk or even bird watching can be life-threatening.  

Environmental justice is not colorblind. To move forward on any other
assumption is not only unsustainable and wrongheaded; it’s dangerous.

We must develop a new intersectional approach to our movement- an approach
which integrates the experiences of marginalized communities into every
conversation. These are the communities most affected by the climate
crisis and fighting for a green agenda without considering its disparate
racial impact all but guarantees that Black, Indigenous, and communities
of color will be further harmed.   

As a white leader, it is my responsibility to ensure this organization
does the work of uplifting Black and Brown voices, while advocating for
environmental reparations. CLCV has made a commitment to facing our
history and taking action – fighting upstream to act on the belief that to
be truly pro-environment we must also be anti-racist. Not some of the
time; all of the time. 

This work is not easy, it requires a deep interpersonal work and
reflection, and integration of these values into our policy, programming,
partnerships, and operations. We will continue to provide our members the
necessary resources, and we ask for your courage to address racism and
environmental injustice in your own community.   

[ [link removed] ]In our latest blog post, we have compiled a list of resources for our
members to learn more about the history of racism in conservation and
environmental movements.  

CLCV Member, use this as your starting point for bridging the gap
between learning and action- study the books, read articles, watch videos,
and listen to podcasts. Take responsibility for your own learning and
growth, and we are here to provide resources and support along the way.  

Thank you for being with us in the fight against racism and the fight for
our future.   

Best,

Mary Creasman
Chief Executive Officer 
California League of Conservation Voters

 

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Since 1972, the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) has protected our land, air, water, and public health as the non-partisan political arm of the environmental movement. CLCV's mission is to protect and enhance the environment and the health of all California communities by electing environmental champions, advancing critical priorities, and holding policymakers accountable.

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