What happens when the heart of environmental justice beats within the spirit of Black women? The answer is nothing short of revolutionary. From the powerful legacy of Black women like Hazel M. Johnson, an environmental activist who established environmental justice as a new component of the civil rights movement, to the rising voices of Spelman’s environmental pioneers like Nia McKenzie who has been investigating water contamination in southern suburbs of Atlanta. This movement is not just about saving the Earth—it’s about rewriting the narrative of who gets to be heard, who gets to lead, and who gets to decide the future of our planet. The time for environmental justice is now, and Black women are leading the charge. However, are their stories receiving the recognition they deserve?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as a movement committed to ensuring the just treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of income, race, or background in decision-making and other federal activities that impact human health and the environment. The fight for environmental justice works to protect communities from disproportionate environmental risks and address the legacy of racism and other systemic barriers. Those involved seek to ensure equitable access to a healthy, sustainable, and resilient environment in which people are free to live, work, and thrive.

As a Black girl raised in America, I was aware that Black women and people have long borne the brunt of society’s neglect, leaving us disproportionately impacted by its many injustices. I assumed that the environmental challenges we face could be no different. But I didn't fully grasp the depth, persistence, and widespread neglect of this issue. Nor did I realize how desperately both the Earth and my sisters were calling for my attention. That all changed when I attended  Spelman’s Environmental and Health Science Department Week from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2. This spirit week was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the department’s formation. Taking part in these events exposed me to the powerful voices of the environmental justice movement.

The History of Black Women in Environmental Justice

Black women have not only carried the weight of their communities’ struggles but have also wielded them like a powerful torch, illuminating the path to justice with fierce determination, despite being ignored or erased by history. Raised within the communities most impacted by environmental racism, Black women have been influential trailblazers. Our passion and power are driven by our own experiences

The areas most exposed to man-made environmental hazards and risks were and still are predominantly Black. A study done by the United States General Accounting Office found that 75% of hazardous waste sites in eight states were placed in low-income communities of color. A  subsequent landmark report entitled “Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States” done by the United Church of Christ revealed that this pattern was found across the entire country.
Black women are not only the primary victims but also the leading experts in the field of environmental justice. Pioneers like Hazel M. Johnson, often called the “mother of environmental justice”, coined the terms like “toxic doughnut” to describe areas where hazardous waste sites disproportionately impact Black and low-income communities. Johnson’s work exposed environmental racism, the idea that racial minorities are most affected by environmental hazards. Her legacy gave power and visibility to Black communities, compelling researchers to confront the undeniable evidence of environmental injustice. Johnson is just one of the many Black women who have shaped the movement. 

On my journey to uncover the often overlooked she-roes of environmental justice, I discovered the invaluable contributions of women like Dr. Beverly L. Wright who is the Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, a powerful resource for environmental justice research and education. There is also Sharon Lavinge, an environmental activist and founder of RISE St. James, a faith-based, grassroots environmental organization, and Dorceta Taylor, a Wangari Maathai Professor of Environmental Justice at the Yale School for the Environment and author of landmark national reports and books regarding environmental justice. The list only begins with them. Check out Vogue’s 2022 article, “All My Environmental Heroes Are Black Women” by Leah Thomas for more. 

So why is it that their names are often left out of conversations, curriculum, and recognition of environmentalists? And what are Spelmanites doing to change this narrative? 

Amid the looming threat of the Trump Administration’s agenda to neglect and defund environmentalist reforms, Black women both within and beyond the gates of Spelman have emerged as powerful environmental activists. These women are not only educating and uplifting their communities but also reshaping the world, one policy at a time. Despite facing systemic hardship, even within our cherished institution, they continue to amplify the voice of the silenced Earth. They are committed to fighting to ensure that its cries for justice are heard. 

HerStory: Policy and Education

On Oct. 30, a panel entitled “HerStory: Celebrating Women in Environmental & Health Policy” was held. The event highlighted the narratives of four Black women. These women included Political Scientist Dr. LaToria Whitehead, Thought Leader and Adjunct Professor at Spelman Yolanda Lewis who also serves as Vice President of Justice and Health at The Meadows Institute, a mental wellness center. The panel discussion also featured Spelman alumna and Spelman’s first Sustainability Coordinator Iesha Baldwin and Environmental and Human Health Scientist Dr. Laurel A Royer.

The speakers shared their expertise on environmental policy while offering unique insights as women in the field of environmental justice. One key point each panelist emphasized was the critical need for communities to have an active voice in shaping policy. They highlighted how deeply environmental science is interconnected with every aspect of life while underscoring the troubling reality that those most impacted by environmental risks are often the least engaged in the decision-making processes that affect them.

“Environmental health is in you and in me,” Dr.Whitehead shared. A leader working at the intersection of public health, environmental justice, and sustainability, Dr. Whitehead urged that environmental policy must always be community-driven. She explained the circular nature of societal issues. Communities disproportionately impacted by environmental issues that challenge their health are more prone to mental and physical health issues, often leading to more interactions with the justice system as well.  It quickly became evident to me that environmental health is public health and environmental justice is social justice. 

Dr. Royer emphasized that many communities lack a clear understanding of environmental policies. She explained that low-income neighborhoods are often situated near factories, chemical plants, and other sources of pollution, yet these residents are rarely present in the discussions that shape the policies affecting their cities, health, and livelihoods. Royer pointed out that risk assessments and safety measures meant to “protect” these communities have been ineffective, largely due to the absence of meaningful representation. She further noted that the lived experiences of Black and low-income populations are often excluded from the “evidence-based science” that regulatory agencies rely on to drive their risk assessments and policy decisions. As a result, the realities of these communities are overlooked in favor of data that doesn’t reflect their actual needs. 

Despite Black women and children being the most sensitive and prone to risk, the models for healthcare and environmental care have continued to be based on White men. Royer’s questions echoed throughout the Cosby Auditorium. “How can we equip communities so that they can be better advocates for themselves? How do we help communities translate their experiences into policy? How do we fill the gap?”.

It was up to us, Spelmanites, to find answers. 

We can no longer afford to remain ignorant or disengaged from the efforts and policies of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The preservation of our planet can no longer be viewed as a distant goal to “get to later.” It’s time to shift the narrative, bringing our communities into these conversations, and recognizing, in unison, the deep connections between the environment, the economy, healthcare, and our everyday lives. Dr.Whitehead emphasized that this quest for change must begin at the heart of Spelman. As we uplift people of color in public health and environmental health spaces, it’s essential to encourage Black women to embrace these conversations and stop seeing environmental health as something distant and irrelevant to our struggles. However, after teaching at Spelman for 13 years, Dr.Whitehead lamented that she has yet to see her hopes for this transformation come to fruition. 

Was this true? Were Spelmanites, prided on their activism and choice to change the world, disengaged from environmental justice? 

The Voices of Spelman

Later on in the spirit week, I attended the Health Policy Case Competition in search of answers. The competition required competitors to propose solutions to sexual and gender-based violence against women in the aftermath of climate change-induced disasters. Once again, I found myself ignorant of the depth and impact of this environmental issue. 

I learned that as climate change intensifies, natural disasters become more frequent and severe, disproportionately displacing women and girls and exposing them to unsafe living conditions, lack of health care, and increased risk of sex trafficking and violence. The most susceptible areas for these issues are those with low socioeconomic resilience. 

Before being enlightened by my Spelman sisters at the competition, I was shocked that I had yet to hear of gender-based violence within public conversations around climate change and natural disasters. According to a study done by the United States National Library of Medicine of gender-based violence among 420 women who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, the rate of new cases of gender-based violence among women more than tripled in the year after the hurricane from 4.6 cases of gender-based violence per 100,000 women daily in 2006 to 16.3 cases per 100,000 women daily in 2007. 

If not Spelman women, who would give voice to these narratives? 

Four groups of passionate Spelmanites presented proposals to aid the millions of women impacted by these surges in gender-based violence. The proposal from the fourth group particularly caught my attention. Their four-step plan is listed as follows: 1. Encouraging gender-sensitive training for disaster responders, 2. Empowering women's leadership and participation in disaster preparedness committees and decision-making processes at all levels. 3. Safe gender-segregated shelters and temporary housing with appropriate security measures. 4. Economic empowerment initiatives for women before and after disaster. Through these proposed initiatives, the group sought to change the culture of disaster crisis by tackling sexism and education. 

Other groups suggested rapid response teams trained in sexual gender-based violence, accessible and destigmatized reporting mechanisms and stations within shelters, and long-term trauma care. Each group had detailed budget proposals, elaborate breakdowns of their solutions, and even architectural sketches for their suggested shelters. 

I felt a renewed sense of hope for the future of both our planet and our communities. Dr. Royer’s question, “How do we fill the gaps?” echoed in my mind, and I realized that Spelman students had answers. They had concrete, actionable plans to ensure that women like them have a seat at the table in these critical conversations. Black women are the heart of environmental justice because we are the voice for the silenced and overlooked, the ones who have long been disregarded in the fight for a healthier, more equitable planet. 

As an institution, we must amplify the voices of our students who are actively making these contributions. I couldn’t help but wish that the HerStory panelists could have witnessed the competition firsthand, for it felt as though Dr. Whitehead’s hopes and dreams were coming to life right in the Spelman Science Center. 

In my time at Spelman I had seen many registered student organizations (R.S.Os), organizations, and departments celebrated and promoted around campus. However, I had yet to hear of the strides of the brilliant girls I encountered throughout the week. In search of more insight from future leaders of the movement, I interviewed Alexis Bussey, a junior Environmental Science major with a minor in Political Science. I longed to dig deeper. 

Were both the institution and our society silencing these women in STEM? 

Bussey served on the planning committee for the Environmental and Health Science Department week, dedicating her Monday nights throughout the summer and the first semester to organizing events alongside professors and fellow Spelmanites involved in the field. Her goal for the week was to support and “show love to the environmental science girls.” She shared that when she first arrived at Spelman, the department was small and underrepresented, which left her feeling discouraged. Reflecting on her journey as an environmental activist, she noted, “Spelman only uplifts students in this movement if you force it to.” She encouraged students to actively seek out professors and resources to get involved and expressed a hope that Spelman would do more in the future to promote these opportunities and support the growing movement.

Currently, Bussey is an HBCU Green Fund Fellow, Curriculum Director for the Environmental Task Force, and an Environmental Justice Program Scholar. She also works with SpelTrek, a Spelman organization committed to closing the diversity gap in outdoor activity and hiking for women of color, and the Sustainable Spelman Institute to make sustainable practices more integrated into campus life. Bussey’s journey as a leader is a testament to the aspirations of Dr. Royer and Dr. Whitehead. 

I looked to Bussey for advice on how more Spelmanites can follow in her footsteps and work to change the fate of tomorrow’s environment. Similar to the HerStory panelists, she emphasized that we must be engaged in policy as a community. She urged us to never be silent, to attend town hall meetings, to collaborate with organizations on campus, and to be aware of resources in Atlanta and of the gravity of their efforts. 

Bussey explained the significance of Spelmanites specifically within this fight, calling attention to how we often overlook the privileges we have, from access to dining halls to utilities like clean water and food. She emphasized the urgent need for Black women to expand our awareness, pointing out that maternal health, healthcare inequality, poverty, and sexism are all connected to environmental wellness. As HBCU students, many of us are already dedicated to advocating for justice. Bussey reminded us, “No matter what fight we are in, we are all connected.”

So where do we begin? 

A Guide to Action 

Bussey provided me with a list of Environmental Equity and Justice Organizations that I encourage you all to explore, learn from, and get involved with. If you're looking to nurture your green thumb, take a look at the Hartnett Community, Truly Living Well, Historic Westside Gardens, Campbellton Community or The Garden Queen at the West End.

For those seeking accessible organizations, consider the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Black Sustainability Inc., Sustainable Spelman, Black Girl Environmentalist, Scraplanta or the HBCU Green Fund. 

Additional projects worth exploring include Sustainable Fashion Week, the Regional Center of Expertise (RCE) Greater Atlanta, Gangstas to Growers, and the Southeastern African American Farmers Organic Network. 

If you’re looking to make a smaller impact, support businesses that care. Spend a Saturday at YG Urban Cafe or Bookstore Gallery Atlanta, and before you call that Uber back to campus, opt for an eco-friendly ride with Strive Transit instead. There are many ways to get involved and every contribution counts.

The path to environmental justice is not a distant dream, but a tangible, urgent responsibility that calls on each of us—especially Black women—to be active architects of change. From the voices of trailblazers like Hazel M. Johnson to the vibrant activism of today’s Spelman students like Alexis Bussey, it is clear that Black women are not just survivors of environmental harm but the powerful leaders, visionaries, and scholars driving the fight for a more just, sustainable and resilient world. The fight for environmental justice is not an isolated issue; it is intricately tied to the struggles for racial justice, gender equity, and public health. As we move forward, we must ensure that the narratives of Black women and marginalized communities are not only heard but amplified. We must fight to make our contributions recognized, on campus and globally.  We must seize every opportunity to protect and uplift the earth and people we love. Refuse to remain silent, because as Dr. Whitehead and Dr. Royer so passionately remind us, our lives are the evidence and we must choose to change the world.