Being Black And Zero Waste-Ish
video description
1. She never mentioned anything about segregating the environmental movement. Your privilege just jumped out to even think that inclusion could mean segregation. Wow. Youre delusional. Please, shut up and listen.
2. Environmental justice can only happen when there is racial justice and overall Social Justice. You need to study the correlation between these issues.
3. YOUR ancestors created race. You can not afford to be upset with people for appropriately bringing up race. Race is how a lot of people unfortunately have to navigate the world due to the harm that it has caused from the time it was originally created till now. We are going to keep taking about race until people are no longer oppressed because of the race. as much as we hate to admit it, almost everything in America is literally about race. Thats how this country was founded and sustained. So get over it.
4. A person can not be racist for saying that theyre tired of sustainability and environmental work separating the folks that are closely impacted by climate change.
5. The point of the video is to voice the importance of having inclusion in the sustainability and climate change movement. Period.
- if you truly want to have impact, you must be dedicated to knowing how this collective issue is impacting individuals across the globe who do not have the same access and experiences as you. We need to take both personal and collective accountability for how we can support each other in this work.
This can only happen through educating yourself about the root cause of this issue and if you think race is not apart of the problem you have a lot to learn and unlearn.
Date: 2020-08-13
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Comments and reviews: 9
Lily
I think what would have made this more clear is if she specifically discussed the intersections between race and zero waste, AND race and class, which should be added to a different or longer video. Many people see this video and come to the conclusion that either A, Black people are not participating in zero waste simply because they don't want to, or B, that she is accusing white people of directly discouraging black people from trying zero waste. The missing piece here is that a huge part of what deters people from this movement is the classism of it, and obviously POC are more often affected by such classism. People feel that even if they are being resourceful as they always have done, if they cannot afford organic/ethical brands they will never truly belong to this modern movement, one which often seems more based on aesthetic appearances than sustainable principles. For example, people feel compelled to buy a new glass soap dispenser when the plastic one they've been refilling for years is enough and counts as recycling. Once we get past this issue with how the movement is perceived by focusing more on sustainable options for people who can't buy anything extra, more black people and other POC will be called to it as the intersections between race and class are properly addressed.
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I think what would have made this more clear is if she specifically discussed the intersections between race and zero waste, AND race and class, which should be added to a different or longer video. Many people see this video and come to the conclusion that either A, Black people are not participating in zero waste simply because they don't want to, or B, that she is accusing white people of directly discouraging black people from trying zero waste. The missing piece here is that a huge part of what deters people from this movement is the classism of it, and obviously POC are more often affected by such classism. People feel that even if they are being resourceful as they always have done, if they cannot afford organic/ethical brands they will never truly belong to this modern movement, one which often seems more based on aesthetic appearances than sustainable principles. For example, people feel compelled to buy a new glass soap dispenser when the plastic one they've been refilling for years is enough and counts as recycling. Once we get past this issue with how the movement is perceived by focusing more on sustainable options for people who can't buy anything extra, more black people and other POC will be called to it as the intersections between race and class are properly addressed.
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Pyra
The way this video is edited. Hm. Anyway, one important key I learned and I have to reinforce in myself often is that any time I feel automatically defensive and cognitive dissonance, is to step back and question why and what is causing it. I know she's telling the truth. I know all the flaws out there in internet land. So how I bridged that gap in my brain. My grandma was part of the destitute great depression and a LOT of the hacks I see in the internet at large look like all the stuff that she passed down to my mom and me when they had absolutely nothing. It's laughable to see sustainability become a middle class, white thing. And I can take that knowledge of how distorted the lens is nowadays, and I can widen my focus and see that those who have lived rough out of necessity from oppression and dehumanization long before and long after the depression have been poc and especially black people and First Nation people. So I know I can take my automatic defensiveness and turn it into something more useful than making nasty comments on the interwebz.
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The way this video is edited. Hm. Anyway, one important key I learned and I have to reinforce in myself often is that any time I feel automatically defensive and cognitive dissonance, is to step back and question why and what is causing it. I know she's telling the truth. I know all the flaws out there in internet land. So how I bridged that gap in my brain. My grandma was part of the destitute great depression and a LOT of the hacks I see in the internet at large look like all the stuff that she passed down to my mom and me when they had absolutely nothing. It's laughable to see sustainability become a middle class, white thing. And I can take that knowledge of how distorted the lens is nowadays, and I can widen my focus and see that those who have lived rough out of necessity from oppression and dehumanization long before and long after the depression have been poc and especially black people and First Nation people. So I know I can take my automatic defensiveness and turn it into something more useful than making nasty comments on the interwebz.
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Jazmyne
The reason she brought up race is because in many cases, in order to be sustainable and choose things that are better for both the environment and for yourself, you have to pick the more higher quality product, thus the more expensive product, which many communities of color don't have access or easy access to. There's reasons you see unhealthy restaurants and cheap fashion in lower income neighborhoods and more high end products and whole foods in wealthier areas. And not even just speaking on expensive eco-friendly brands, many communities of color still dont even have access to clean drinking water. There's discrimination in every aspect of our society. She never said she has a problem with white people being sustainable, she's simply trying to show some representation in and industry thats full of white faces. Dont attack her just because you dont understand that concept.
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The reason she brought up race is because in many cases, in order to be sustainable and choose things that are better for both the environment and for yourself, you have to pick the more higher quality product, thus the more expensive product, which many communities of color don't have access or easy access to. There's reasons you see unhealthy restaurants and cheap fashion in lower income neighborhoods and more high end products and whole foods in wealthier areas. And not even just speaking on expensive eco-friendly brands, many communities of color still dont even have access to clean drinking water. There's discrimination in every aspect of our society. She never said she has a problem with white people being sustainable, she's simply trying to show some representation in and industry thats full of white faces. Dont attack her just because you dont understand that concept.
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Pandora
So I am a white woman and trying two zero waste. One of her points was that people of color had to be resourceful. I grew up poor. Like dirt poor with a single disabled mother. I grew up around black family and friends. And I didn't realize until I was older that people thought things I was doing was cultural appropriation. And I agree that this is a problem but i am not doing anything wrong. And I don't see how a white person being resourceful is cultural appropriation. like I had to be resourceful too. Another thing about cultural appropriation. I have curly hair (I'm irish) and when I wear it in its natural state that is cultural appropriation. loving my curls is stealing from black women. I have worn box braids 3 times. It protects my curls but I just don't get this. I can't love my planet, my curls, and be white?
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So I am a white woman and trying two zero waste. One of her points was that people of color had to be resourceful. I grew up poor. Like dirt poor with a single disabled mother. I grew up around black family and friends. And I didn't realize until I was older that people thought things I was doing was cultural appropriation. And I agree that this is a problem but i am not doing anything wrong. And I don't see how a white person being resourceful is cultural appropriation. like I had to be resourceful too. Another thing about cultural appropriation. I have curly hair (I'm irish) and when I wear it in its natural state that is cultural appropriation. loving my curls is stealing from black women. I have worn box braids 3 times. It protects my curls but I just don't get this. I can't love my planet, my curls, and be white?
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Morgan
Lol everyone in the comments only watched the first few seconds and it shows! Nowhere does it say she doesn't want white people in the movement, neither does she say it's bad; she's simply noting that many of the welll known and zero waste bloggers/activists etc happen to be white often wealthier and just that that's not where the movement developed its roots. The roots came from black and indigenous people and poor people, so again feel free to go ahead and be part of the movement of course bc it's saving the planet. She's simply asking to reflect and understand the history and be aware that the faces of many social movements still aren't very diverse and representative of the wide range of racial and economic classes of folks who have been zero waste before it became trendy
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Lol everyone in the comments only watched the first few seconds and it shows! Nowhere does it say she doesn't want white people in the movement, neither does she say it's bad; she's simply noting that many of the welll known and zero waste bloggers/activists etc happen to be white often wealthier and just that that's not where the movement developed its roots. The roots came from black and indigenous people and poor people, so again feel free to go ahead and be part of the movement of course bc it's saving the planet. She's simply asking to reflect and understand the history and be aware that the faces of many social movements still aren't very diverse and representative of the wide range of racial and economic classes of folks who have been zero waste before it became trendy
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Tsambika
The Australian prime Minister and Daniel Andrews should be in court for criminal negligence to ALL Australian citizens for deliberately taking their freedom from them. Wearing masks is a health hazard and a security risk. There are NO corona virus DEATHS ( those deaths in nursing homes are very very OLD people with pre existing illnesses. millions should march to The Parliament I of EVERY country. The world free mason. Leaders are breaking the law. These people are lawless. There is NO corona virus. Only what the problems these government criminals are inflicting on society. Andrea and Morrison are free masons The media and thx government is fabricating all of it. they should all be thrown in jail. President Trump said The Corona virus was a democratic hoax
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The Australian prime Minister and Daniel Andrews should be in court for criminal negligence to ALL Australian citizens for deliberately taking their freedom from them. Wearing masks is a health hazard and a security risk. There are NO corona virus DEATHS ( those deaths in nursing homes are very very OLD people with pre existing illnesses. millions should march to The Parliament I of EVERY country. The world free mason. Leaders are breaking the law. These people are lawless. There is NO corona virus. Only what the problems these government criminals are inflicting on society. Andrea and Morrison are free masons The media and thx government is fabricating all of it. they should all be thrown in jail. President Trump said The Corona virus was a democratic hoax
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Gabriella
All of the division in the comment section. This is a buzzfeed video. Whos to say they didnt just edit it to preach their rhetoric.
As far as seeing more POCs in the movement, it would be cool! I would like to be able to find some tips about a zero waste hair care for black women! Representation is important, but maybe weve gotta just do it.
I do think its important for everyone to just do what they can. There should definitely be more programs implemented to help lower income communities be more sustainable.
I cant say for sure who started the movement, I havent researched it for myself. Like I previously stated, this is buzzfeed. Its important to search for information on our own.
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All of the division in the comment section. This is a buzzfeed video. Whos to say they didnt just edit it to preach their rhetoric.
As far as seeing more POCs in the movement, it would be cool! I would like to be able to find some tips about a zero waste hair care for black women! Representation is important, but maybe weve gotta just do it.
I do think its important for everyone to just do what they can. There should definitely be more programs implemented to help lower income communities be more sustainable.
I cant say for sure who started the movement, I havent researched it for myself. Like I previously stated, this is buzzfeed. Its important to search for information on our own.
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Lisa
0: 00. So you're trying to say that white people can't save the world from global warming? Cuz you are dividing two races that should be working together on trying to fix the world. Actually scratch that, everyone should be working together. So it shouldn't be a black thing or a white thing and a person who are trying to paint it as though are NOT trying to solve racial issues in America or across the world. It's called Cultural Mixing lady. But I applaud you on making an effort to save the world. I had to say, most of her points were actually accurate and good. I just don't think race and zero waste should ever be and the same realm.
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0: 00. So you're trying to say that white people can't save the world from global warming? Cuz you are dividing two races that should be working together on trying to fix the world. Actually scratch that, everyone should be working together. So it shouldn't be a black thing or a white thing and a person who are trying to paint it as though are NOT trying to solve racial issues in America or across the world. It's called Cultural Mixing lady. But I applaud you on making an effort to save the world. I had to say, most of her points were actually accurate and good. I just don't think race and zero waste should ever be and the same realm.
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Helena
I sort of get your point, but zero waste is definitely not a matter of skin color. Who started the movement, the skin color of who started the movement is the least important, what matters the most is that more and more people are engaging this lifestyle, if I can call it that, and trying to do their best to help our planet. It's a question of ideas and not of skin color, and yes I understand what you mean by the video, you want people to know the exact origins of zero waste, but has i said, it does not matter if your black, white, yellow, red or even purple or blue, what matters is if you are doing what you can to help.
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I sort of get your point, but zero waste is definitely not a matter of skin color. Who started the movement, the skin color of who started the movement is the least important, what matters the most is that more and more people are engaging this lifestyle, if I can call it that, and trying to do their best to help our planet. It's a question of ideas and not of skin color, and yes I understand what you mean by the video, you want people to know the exact origins of zero waste, but has i said, it does not matter if your black, white, yellow, red or even purple or blue, what matters is if you are doing what you can to help.
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