Black history can be viewed and celebrated through many different lenses because Black history is American history. However, it's difficult to discuss the history of Environmental Justice without also discussing Black history in America. In celebration of Black History Month, here on the Medcom Blog, we'll be discussing the huge role Black Americans played in the foundation of the Environmental Justice movement.

The Principles of Environmental Justice

Let's talk about the foundations of the Environmental Justice movement. 17 principles of Environmental Justice were written by delegates in 1991 during the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in Washington D.C. These principles are still in place to this day.

1. Environmental Justice affirms the sacredness of Mother Earth, ecological unity and the interdependence of all species, and the right to be free from ecological destruction.
2. Environmental Justice demands that public policy be based on mutual respect and justice for all peoples, free from any form of discrimination or bias.
3. Environmental Justice mandates the right to ethical, balanced, and responsible uses of land and renewable resources in the interest of a sustainable planet for humans and other living things.
4. Environmental Justice calls for universal protection from nuclear testing, extraction, production, and disposal of toxic/hazardous wastes and poisons and nuclear testing that threaten the fundamental right to clean air, land, water, and food.
5. Environmental Justice affirms the fundamental right to political, economic, cultural, and environmental self-determination of all peoples.
6. Environmental Justice demands the cessation of the production of all toxins, hazardous wastes, and radioactive materials and that all past and current producers be held strictly accountable to the people for detoxification and the containment at the point of production.
7. Environmental Justice demands the right to participate as equal partners at every level of decision-making, including needs assessment, planning, implementation, enforcement, and evaluation.
8. Environmental Justice affirms the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work environment without being forced to choose between an unsafe livelihood and unemployment. It also affirms the right of those who work at home to be free from environmental hazards.
9. Environmental Justice protects the right of victims of environmental injustice to receive full compensation and reparations for damages as well as quality health care.
10. Environmental Justice considers governmental acts of environmental injustice a violation of international law, the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and the United Nations Convention on Genocide.
11. Environmental Justice must recognize a special legal and natural relationship of Native Peoples to the U.S. government through treaties, agreements, compacts, and covenants affirming sovereignty and self-determination.
12. Environmental Justice affirms the need for urban and rural ecological policies to clean up and rebuild our cities and rural areas in balance with nature, honoring the cultural integrity of all our communities and provided fair access for all to the full range of resources.
13. Environmental Justice calls for the strict enforcement of principles of informed consent and a halt to the testing of experimental reproductive and medical procedures and vaccinations on people of color.
14. Environmental Justice opposes the destructive operations of multi-national corporations.
15. Environmental Justice opposes military occupation, repression, and exploitation of lands, peoples, cultures, and other life forms.
16. Environmental Justice calls for the education of present and future generations, which emphasizes social and environmental issues based on our experience and an appreciation of our diverse cultural perspectives.
17. Environmental Justice requires that we, as individuals, make personal and consumer choices to consume as little of Mother Earth’s resources and to produce as little waste as possible; and make the conscious decision to challenge and reprioritize our lifestyles to ensure the health of the natural world for present and future generations.

Toxic Pollution

Black communities in America are historically targeted as dumping sites for toxic pollution. One of the first examples of this was brought to the public's attention in 1982. In Warren County, North Carolina, their landfill became the proposed dumping site for toxic soil containing polychlorinated biphenyls (known to have a range of adverse health impacts). Warren County was the only county with a Black majority in the state. Local Black communities staged a sit-in to stop the dump, and though it was unsuccessful, this event is still widely acknowledged as the beginning of the Environmental Justice movement.

In 1987, Rev. Benjamin Chavis and the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice published a report called Toxic Waste and Race. This report was the first of its kind and revealed that race was the most significant factor in the location of hazardous waste sites.

Organizations

The West Harlem for Environmental Action organization was the first prominent Environmental Justice organization formed in 1988. Now called WE ACT for Environmental Justice, the organization continues to work to ensure that "people of color and/or low-income residents participate meaningfully in the creation of sound and fair environmental health and protection policies and practices." Since then, many other organizations have formed in honor of the movement:

• East Michigan Environmental Action Council
• Deep South Center for Environmental Justice
• NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program
• Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health and Justice
• Outdoor Afro

When we appreciate outdoor spaces and fight for movements like Environmental Justice, it is important to learn and acknowledge how these movements started and are thankful for the individuals driven by the passion to fight for themselves and others. As an Earth Charter partner, Medcom Benefit Solutions wants to fight for the future of our employees and the planet. To learn more, contact us at earthcharter@medcombenefits.com.

Happy Black History month!