In a recent article, “Beyond Eco-Apartheid,” Van Jones of Oakland’s Ella Baker Center for Human Rights asks, “Is the environmental movement too white?”
According to Jones, “The LOHAS (lifestyles of health and sustainability) sector is growing like crazy…but unfortunately [it] is probably the most racially segregated part of the US economy.”
The article was originally written for Common Ground, but I found it posted at Truth Out, which collects lots of good cultural critics including Jessica Valenti, Michael Pollan, Bill McKibben & Bill Moyers.
(Acknowledgment: Thanks to the man paddling a canoe to Carl Ross Key island…)
“It is obvious that eco-chic, embraced by the eco-elite, won’t save the planet”
04/28/07 » 4:42 am »
Reminds me of how one of my friends described me as having very republican shopping habits simply for buying raw milk cheeses, which I am able to digest much better than pasteurized cheeses. Somehow the velveeta lifestyle is seen as more authentic by many.
04/29/07 » 5:36 pm »
You’ve been nominated for a Thinking Blogger Award.
04/30/07 » 11:12 am »
This point is right on. Education is first in the eliteness and the elite white do have an advantage here. As a white woman of higher education I know the advantage I have to even be able to be on this blog, to have the time to read this, post and have internet access. One must be very motivated to find the resources to be able to even first be aware there are choices to be more eco friendly and then to be able to afford to make those changes requiring time and money. I live in Mpls and from what I can see, we the well educated elite here have the time and money to make those choices, the inner city minority groups struggle to find time and resources to even be aware. Many do not have computer access, and definately do not have the funds to buy more expensive products and services. There must be insentives for everyone to do so. Why not some private funding for WIC and food stamps towards purchasing eco friendly products? Back to the elite, I keep going back to my Christian Faith which drives my choices, to those whom much has been given, much is required as well as the many references to caring for God’s people and creation, our earth. I find that the white eliteness is also there in the traditional churches and I am blown away with the apathy there to not use the riches one has been given to do what’s right for the earth and the enrironment. My hubby and girls are doing our best out here in Suburbia, we are the first in our neighborhood to go all organic in lawncare and we can wait to see others jump aboard all ove Minnesota.
04/30/07 » 11:44 am »