“Everyday Climate Champions” Podcast Episode 9: “The Black Church’s Inspiring Work in Environmental Justice”
Written by Mina Rios
Learn more about Climate Reality Bay Area’s podcast, Everyday Climate Champions here.
“When I started, it was not necessarily to teach Black folk how to be environmentalists, but to share with the environmental movement all of the rich things that the Black Church and community were already doing.”
Listen to Episode 9: here
Transcript: here
Guests: Reverend Dr. Ambrose Carroll Sr., CEO, Green the Church
Host: George Dy
Summary:
In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of the Black Church in its pursuit of environmental justice. Joined by Reverend Dr. Ambrose Carroll, co-founder of Green The Church, we explore the role the Black Church plays in driving positive change by bridging faith and sustainability. Prepare to be motivated as we discover the Black Church's unwavering commitment to creating a more equitable and environmentally friendly future.
Why This Matters:
The ultimate goal of the Black Church is to bring about Martin Luther King Jr.’s global vision, the beloved community, “..all people can share in the wealth of the earth.”
The Black Church strives to empower those who have been marginalized, so they can become self-reliant. One key way to do that: offer the black community training programs for green jobs.
The Black Church intends to help oversee fair distribution of government funding to ensure that black communities are thriving.
Key Takeaways
The Environmental Justice movement was started by people of color during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement. The Black Church stands on the front lines for the black community, confronting big oil over cleanup and toxic sites near marginalized communities. They’ve also worked closely with state and federal legislatures over the last 14 years, helping to bring progress to fruition.
Green the Church was established to expand the role of Black Churches as centers for environmental and economic resilience through conservation, food sovereignty, building efficiency, and renewable energy.
Standing at the forefront of the environmental justice movement, Rev. Carroll found his calling to advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of marginalized communities, while inspiring action within faith-based communities.
He sits on the National Environmental Justice Action Committee (NEJAC) for the Environmental Protection Agency. His role is to ensure that legislative funding and resources get to the communities in need. Rev. Carroll has also been working closely with the City of Berkeley on efforts to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2045.
In the last few years, notable strides in federal environmental justice policy have been made, including the creation of the White House Office of Environmental Justice. Also, the new Justice40 Initiative is aimed at allocating at least 40% of federal investments in sectors like clean energy and affordable housing directly to marginalized communities.
People of color who’ve experienced gentrification (e.g. those who live in South Berkeley) often don’t have access to key information on how to transition to sustainable living.
Rev. Carroll shares that the environmental impact of pollution, climate change, and resource depletion is not common kitchen-table conversation in the black community; most of that dialogue focuses on revival. The Black Church and community are very concerned about environmental issues; these concerns are considered interconnected with revival efforts and discussions and are more or less implied.
For example: “We've been doing more with less for so long. When people talk about how to use less, these are things that our grandparents have been teaching for years; the subject is just brought up differently,” says Rev. Carroll.
Relevant historical information includes:
African American Buffalo Soldiers, the first park rangers of National Parks, can help inspire more black young people to connect to the outdoors.
After the Civil War, the black community owned 19 million acres of land: an all-time record high reached in 1910. Ever since, land ownership (and thus control over land use) in the black community has been declining.
Much of the black citizens who settled in the West could not afford to buy private residences. Instead, they put their money together to collectively buy church buildings. Many of these buildings are currently in disarray, and Rev. Carroll is hopeful that forthcoming financial assistance will ensure that these faith buildings receive the climate-friendly upgrades they need.
Discussions are currently underway between Green the Church and other nonprofits planning to create a clean energy network, making the vision of creating an African American trade union a feasible possibility.
During the Industrial Revolution, communities pulled their assets together for new industry; the same is possible today. There’s an opportunity for the Black Church and community to put their hands in the soil and become stewards of the planet; uniting with the population at large as Americans and human beings, moving past fear of one another.
Rev. Carroll’s message is metaphorical through the story of Noah's Ark: The time to get onboard is now. Scientists have sounded the alarm. Our air and water are at risk. And we’re running out of time. In short, the message is, "Get aboard. It's going to rain."
How to Take Action
Bone up on Environmental Justice issues and keep them in mind as climate-friendly policies get implemented. (See below for great websites.)
Consider getting involved with climate justice issues at organizations such as Green the Church or at your own house of worship.
Related Websites:
Green the Church: Standing at the Intersection of the Black Church and the Environmental Movement: https://www.greenthechurch.org/our-mission
Info on the Justice40 Initiative: https://www.whitehouse.gov/environmentaljustice/justice40/
President Biden’s Executive Order on Environmental Justice for All: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/04/21/fact-sheet-president-biden-signs-executive-order-to-revitalize-our-nations-commitment-to-environmental-justice-for-all/
Berkeley, CA’s Existing Buildings Electrification Strategy: https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2021-11-30%20Item%2013%20Berkeley%20Existing%20Buildings%20Electrification%20Strategy.pdf
History of land ownership by Black farmers in the U.S.: https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/46984/19353_ra174h_1_.pdf
Buffalo Soldiers, some of the first national park rangers: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/historyculture/buffalo-soldiers.htm
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Podcast Production Team: Executive Producer: Dalya Massachi; Sound Designers: Kayla Anchell, Trevor Skerbe; Co-Hosts/Researchers: George Dy, Ellisa Feinstein, Isabella Genereaux, Sean Mendelson, Hasini Parepalli, Lex Schrader, Alex Williams; Logo Designer: Gabriela Vargas