February is Black History month on the Russian River. This important time underscores the need to recognize and honor Black experiences and contributions that have historically been left out of the dominant narrative in the United States, especially when it comes to environmentalism. Representation is a key factor that helps us move toward a future where all communities can feel at home on the River.
Today we celebrate Black environmentalists doing amazing work in the fight for clean water, air, and environmental justice for communities that are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards like polluted waterways. Although the environmental justice movement began in the 1960s, environmentalism has primarily been a white, middle-class movement that has focused on the achievements of White Americans. We still see a higher percentage of White individuals in environmental organizations, resulting from a long history of discrimination and exclusion.
In her book, Black Faces, White Spaces, Dr. Carolyn Finney describes this phenomenon as multifaceted and complex. The inequities of today are deeply rooted in historical systemic oppression that has culturally determined who should, and should not, have access to freedom, wealth and outdoor spaces. Discriminatory policies and practices throughout history include many dealing with slavery, the Black Codes of 1860s, the Homestead Act of 1862, Plessy v. Ferguson in 1896, the Wilderness Act of 1964, Jim Crow laws up until 1965, and continual redlining and policing. These have contributed to the legacy of inequity for Black Americans rippling through time to the present day and have had a lasting effect on the quality of life for people of color that maintain the status quo. Just recently, the updated Portrait of Sonoma County 2021 has shown that the Human Development Index for Black Sonoma County residents has continued to drop since the last measurement in 2014. Inequity will continue in the future unless we as a community make reparations and direct opportunities to those negatively affected by structural racism.
Despite massive historical racial trauma, Black Americans and other people of color have demonstrated an extraordinary resilience as discourse on race is increasingly normalized. Black scholars like Cornel West, Bell Hooks, Angela Davis and Robert D. Bullard have paved the way for the social justice movement that continues to challenge how our country is governed. We at Russian Riverkeeper stand by Black communities in the fight for justice and encourage awareness and action toward racial issues that cannot be separated from our everyday lives. Please see below a list of events and resources from the Sonoma County Library to deeper our understanding of these issues and show support as allies to promote equity and fair treatment for our fellow Americans.