Innovators, motivators, creators of change; black women. Throughout history, African-American women have laid the groundwork for action. Often kicking in doors and smashing glass ceilings, black women have always been there to create activity through action. Now African-American women are rediscovering their voices and using them to create a better legacy for future generations.
Thanks to tillage and crops, African Americans have always been united with the land. However, climate change and environmental pollution are giving way to harm to the environment. As in many other areas, black women are paving a new path to environmental activism and change in thinking to help restore African-American perceptions and thoughts about the world around them.
Pashon Murray, CEO and president of Detroit Dirt, insists on environmental change and hopes to raise awareness of several environmental issues that directly affect blacks. Through the organization, Murray helps inform about food waste in the country.
“Detroit Dirt is a social, economic and environmental model that fights food waste,” says Murray. “The whole goal of the Detroit Dirt was to socially, economically and environmentally combat the problems associated with waste. We wanted to draw attention to the food waste epidemic. At the same time, we wanted to show the benefits of being a resource and not seen as what we consume as humans, but the fact that composting is important because of soil health. ”
The value of soil is often underestimated and lost. Misconceptions about environmental activity and how it affects black communities is a topic that is not often explored or discussed. By covering this topic, Murray is helping to influence his community through sustainable change that will help the environment rebuild itself and those who inhabit it.
“Climate change is such an important topic and why we need to act now. People don’t really look at soil as a direct impact on the climate, and they don’t look at composting that way. If you hide food waste in a landfill or burn it, you are contributing to greenhouse gases, ”says Murray. “Instead of mismanaging this material, you want to be able to compost it and return it to the land where it belongs. Or prevent food waste by feeding the homeless or hungry. ”
Starting at the root, Murray seeks to teach black and brown youth the importance of preserving the Earth in developing a curriculum for students. Murray also cast her vote on Capitol Hill to uphold the health of the environment.
“I just went to Capitol Hill. There were four witnesses, and I was one of the witnesses who talked to the biennial U.S. Senate infrastructure legislation and part of what I shared with them about getting information for the masses. There are many ways we should be able to invest in education. One: K-12 schools. We definitely need to get more curriculum-based, project-based learning, ”says Murray.
Continuing to invest in nature, Lisa Hillary Johnson’s holistic approach to life helps her guide other African Americans to take more care of their bodies and overall health across the Earth. Drawing energy from family ancestors, Johnson breathes new life into the community through healing.
“My ancestors and teachers taught me what to treat. You heal in your community. For me, it’s the only way I know how to get out, ”says Johnson, who is a doctor, licensed masseur and yogi.
By launching Day Retreat, Johnson will focus on black women and restoring feminine energy. The retreat will help not only to restore the discovery, but also with integrity in the foreground, it will also help to create moments of tranquility.
“I want to teach everyone how to get back to their roots. What our great-grandmothers, our grandmothers invested in us and taught us culturally, ”says Johnson. “It seems to us that we are so far from it because grandparents are so different now, but they are still with us,” Johnson says.
The trauma of the past for African Americans is something that some believe is embedded in their DNA. By passing on the damage to generations, Johnson hopes to sever traumatic ties with the past to help build new relationships with the present and the future.
“My goal is to get everything in my head before I leave the planet. I’m still studying, but I have 20 years of knowledge only about health, ”says Johnson. “It seems to me that I am not doing anything. I think I’m doing what I have to do. I think if I don’t, then my ancestors will persecute me. This is my place on the planet, my footprint, my plan on the planet. “
Black women are constantly finding ways to make a difference not only for their immediate society, but for African Americans in general. Despite a history of pain and injury, black women return to basics and choose progress over pain.
“Black women across the spectrum, we performed so much because we know what we need and no one necessarily gives it to us. I think black women in film, television, health, media, music; Black women have the game, ”says Johnson.
Known as goddesses, black women wear their crowns and ensure that the next generation of women will have a place where they can call home and rule their Kingdom. From the environment to healing, the work begins and ends with black women.