Thanks for this article, Emily. There is a predominance of white people in conservation and wildlife research too, as you mention briefly. Even though the majority of the serious conservation work we need to do on this planet takes places in low-income countries inhabited by people of colour. And whilst the number of local people involved in conservation programmes in Africa, for example, is growing, there is considerable need for more support for young biologists, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts in these countries. For better education and training opportunities. For mentoring, so they can actually get expertise and break through the BS that scientific communities perpetuate. It suits white people (and yep, I'm one of them) to keep this a white-dominated realm, to keep themselves in jobs, but I think we'll never be effectively protecting biodiversity whilst that work is not led by the people who live alongside those species and habitats needing protection.
I assumed that black birders were rather scarce, but not as scarce as Mr. Lanham told us. It's a pity and a shame that is the case, as I've known a few black people who appreciated nature every bit as much as I do. I'm beyond enraged at the 'Beckys' and 'Karens' of this country - were I to encounter one of them pulling their racist acts, I'd definitely be up in someone's face. I am sickened and dismayed at the racism that's seemingly run overtly (I'm sure it was there all along) rampant in this country since Obama was elected. At 65, I thought many of us were better than we are - I guess I should be old enough to know better. :/
"Racial minorities consistently report higher concern for the environment and the climate than white people. And yet, they are severely underrepresented in mainstream environmental groups, are less likely to identify as “environmentalists,” and less likely to participate in outdoor recreation."
I have to admit this paragraph really surprised me. I talked with another (white) friend who read this post and we both reflected on it and found out that we just didn't really think minorities were all that concerned with the environment.
And this is, of course, a racist thought, so I'm just writing this post to try and turn that racist thought into an anti-racist one.
I think it was surprising because my racist notion was that racial minorities have plenty of other things to worry about besides environment and climate. Like being threatened with state-sponsored murder like Mr. Cooper was, or with mold, lead, and asbestos in their homes like my students are, or with any other threat racial minorities face daily.
The problem with thinking that way is it puts my expectations and biases onto entire racial groups rather than thinking about members of racial groups as individuals. If my initial reaction was to think about racial groups as collections of unique individuals with varied interests, that statement would nat have been surprising. Maybe not something I had ever thought about, but definitely not something I would write a few paragraphs about.
Anyways, this is just me thinking through my experience with that paragraph out loud. It's been a good practice for me to make my racist thoughts public--quickest way to get rid of them. Once at a reading, poet and tree appreciator Hanif Abdurraqib shared his thoughts on why he wrote a series of poems called "How Can Black People Write About Flowers At A Time Like This." His basic point was that Black folks are not, and never have been, responsible for obsessing over the "Black problems" that the question the title of his poem supposes. Thinking otherwise is to see Black folks as a homogenous group. Even beyond that, the environment and the climate crisis are problems for everyone.
I know this is rambling, but had to get something out there :)
Thanks for this article, Emily. There is a predominance of white people in conservation and wildlife research too, as you mention briefly. Even though the majority of the serious conservation work we need to do on this planet takes places in low-income countries inhabited by people of colour. And whilst the number of local people involved in conservation programmes in Africa, for example, is growing, there is considerable need for more support for young biologists, conservationists and wildlife enthusiasts in these countries. For better education and training opportunities. For mentoring, so they can actually get expertise and break through the BS that scientific communities perpetuate. It suits white people (and yep, I'm one of them) to keep this a white-dominated realm, to keep themselves in jobs, but I think we'll never be effectively protecting biodiversity whilst that work is not led by the people who live alongside those species and habitats needing protection.
I assumed that black birders were rather scarce, but not as scarce as Mr. Lanham told us. It's a pity and a shame that is the case, as I've known a few black people who appreciated nature every bit as much as I do. I'm beyond enraged at the 'Beckys' and 'Karens' of this country - were I to encounter one of them pulling their racist acts, I'd definitely be up in someone's face. I am sickened and dismayed at the racism that's seemingly run overtly (I'm sure it was there all along) rampant in this country since Obama was elected. At 65, I thought many of us were better than we are - I guess I should be old enough to know better. :/
If anyone wants further related reading. I read this essay yesterday. Very powerfully written and I've been thinking about it since. "The White Space" by Elijah Anderson: https://sociology.yale.edu/sites/default/files/pages_from_sre-11_rev5_printer_files.pdf
"Racial minorities consistently report higher concern for the environment and the climate than white people. And yet, they are severely underrepresented in mainstream environmental groups, are less likely to identify as “environmentalists,” and less likely to participate in outdoor recreation."
I have to admit this paragraph really surprised me. I talked with another (white) friend who read this post and we both reflected on it and found out that we just didn't really think minorities were all that concerned with the environment.
And this is, of course, a racist thought, so I'm just writing this post to try and turn that racist thought into an anti-racist one.
I think it was surprising because my racist notion was that racial minorities have plenty of other things to worry about besides environment and climate. Like being threatened with state-sponsored murder like Mr. Cooper was, or with mold, lead, and asbestos in their homes like my students are, or with any other threat racial minorities face daily.
The problem with thinking that way is it puts my expectations and biases onto entire racial groups rather than thinking about members of racial groups as individuals. If my initial reaction was to think about racial groups as collections of unique individuals with varied interests, that statement would nat have been surprising. Maybe not something I had ever thought about, but definitely not something I would write a few paragraphs about.
Anyways, this is just me thinking through my experience with that paragraph out loud. It's been a good practice for me to make my racist thoughts public--quickest way to get rid of them. Once at a reading, poet and tree appreciator Hanif Abdurraqib shared his thoughts on why he wrote a series of poems called "How Can Black People Write About Flowers At A Time Like This." His basic point was that Black folks are not, and never have been, responsible for obsessing over the "Black problems" that the question the title of his poem supposes. Thinking otherwise is to see Black folks as a homogenous group. Even beyond that, the environment and the climate crisis are problems for everyone.
I know this is rambling, but had to get something out there :)