The Intersectional History of Environmentalism

This project illuminates the diverse histories within the environmental movement that are often overlooked, watered-down, or entirely erased. Throughout the video’s progression, friends of IE unpack the vital contributions that Black, Indigenous + people of color have made to the environmental movement. Our goal is to support these often-overlooked narratives + the original stewards of our lands; encourage folks to reclaim their relationships with nature; and amplify initiatives that are creating a more just + equitable future for all people + the planet.

We are so grateful for IE's community members, council members, and friends for helping us bring this project to life + we're so excited to share it in full, and engage in discussions + critiques of it with you all.

Our intentions with the project:
+ illuminate historically-overlooked narratives of community members, organizers + original stewards of Turtle Island.
+ shed light on the contributions Black, Indigenous + people of color have made to the environmental movement.
+ encourage folks to reclaim their relationships with the nature they're already a part of
+ amplify initiatives that are creating a more just + equitable future for all people + the planet

Additional Photo Animations by Simrah Farrukh
Features by
Music by Sarah the Illstrumentalist, Iso Indies, Henyao, Matt Large, DAJANA
Special thanks to the IE Council, IE Community + IE Team

We are deeply grateful for the IE experts + community members that expressed their truths with us, shared their pieces with us, + helped us express the histories explored in this video. Due to time constraints + shrinking attention spans, we haven’t been able to dedicate nearly enough time to each event that we touched on. We're looking forward to expanding this series and including more narratives, firsthand accounts + truths rooted in community insight as we explore the real history of environmental justice.

Research Direction + Assistance:
Professor, and founder + Executive Director of the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples- Dr. Angela Mooney D’arcy
Professor of History- Michael Fraga
Indigenous Environmental Justice Advocate- Andrea Perez

Images:
Divest-NY, NewYorker
Justice-on-climate-race-immigration, Medium
March-Against-Monsanto-LA, LATimes
NYT-Youth-Protest, NYT
Protect-Mauna-Kea, TeenVogue
Youth-Climate-March, TheNation

Videos:
Climate & BLM Activists Protest Outside Chuck Shumer’s House / Speech by Alex O’Keefe, Sunrise Movement, YouTube
Dakota Access Pipeline Protesters: ‘The World Needed To See What Was Going On’ | NBC News, NBC News, YouTube
Robert Bullard - The Genesis of Environmental Justice, YouTube
This is why Native Americans are marching on Washington, CGTV America, YouTube
Young Climate Activists Storm Capitol Hill Demanding A Green New Deal, The Real News Network, YouTube

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[luckytran]

This is wonderful and essential for all climate activists. Thank you for putting it together 💚

[VincentSmith]

Ever since I read Leah Thomas's intersectional environmentalism my eyes have become motivated to change my life. The story of black and brown people in this country who believed in environmental justice should no longer be ignored. Intersectional Environmentalist is a topic I'm so grateful to have learned about. Let's keep this content going.

[Lexouillation]

Need so much more of this. In France where I live politicians and the government have started to say that words like "decolonization" or "intersectionality" are silly to use in this country because apparently "we're not like the US which is where they come from", and "France doesn't have a problem with racism or environmental justice"... which is just ... crazy. Whereas people that live in former enslaved french islands, and indigenous communities (when recognized, bc there's also a problem with that) are still considered second-class citizens, and Fr still has a hold on its former colonies. Anyway, keep up the excellent work!! It's truly amazing <3

[elizabethharvester]

What an EXCELLENT video! I want to share this with Middle and Senior Years schools in our division to facilitate meaningful discussions with students in Indigenous Education studies. Thank you!

[eileentran]

sooo much gold in this video! thank you for providing a more inclusive overview of the environmental movement. ✳️

[annabelleegolden]

such a comprehensive story! + beautiful editing and narration

[jafetmartinez]

An marvelous masterpiece! Thanks a lot for making this great video! It's so inspiring!

[sustainablesabs]

The environmental history we SHOULD have been taught in school 💗✨

[philthefixer]

The future is intersectional! And it starts with education like this :)

[HealthyOceanCo]

This is an incredible dive into brightening the timeline on environmentalism. Thank you for providing us this education!

[denpaulaquinocortez]

wow this is so good :')) made the info so accessible + easy to watch and learn

[LeahandLevi]

This is beautifully made (and very informative) first explainer everyone! Well done!

[marissaaurora]

I love the historical counts of intersectionality and referencing the roots and how far back it really goes. It's truly not anything new it's so important that people become educated on this. Can't wait to see how this channel grows ✨

[alexishernandez]

So excited to have these stories shared ✨💗

[attrapehareng]

I found you on IG and really love your work. That video is so well down and it's such an important message! Keep fighting! 💚✊

[jazellthomas]

This is very informative and beautifully made.

[SharedVision]

I started sociology last year and doing a final on this. You are a goddess and delivered what was hidden and whitewashed. Thank you for sharing this 🫶🏼

[inspiroue]

Such a necessary, educational video 👏🏼💛

[diandramarizet]

BIPOC to the front of environmental history 🌞🌏🌱🐛🤎🙏🏽🌿

[lovekamana]

So insightful and loved the graphics! Tysm for this incredible work ❤️