History proves that an occasional revolution is good for the soul. In fact, they can be critical to our society’s survival.
Not very long ago, “going green” was dismissed as a passing fad promoted by aging hippies, tree-huggers and assorted cranks. No longer. Nowadays, the Green Revolution has become mainstream. Suddenly it seems everyone is jumping on the cleaner, greener bandwagon – and that’s a good thing.
But in metro Atlanta and elsewhere, the green movement hasn’t been especially popular in communities of color.
Although there’s sparse research on the subject, a 2004 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life found that support for environmental regulations was lower among African-Americans and Latinos than it was for other ethnic groups.
There may be some solid reasons for the racial disconnect according, to Van Jones, founder of a Oakland-based organization called Green for All.
In a 2007 article for the magazine “Color Lines,” Jones said, “Too often (Blacks and minorities) have said: ‘We are overwhelmed with violence, bad housing, failing schools, excessive incarceration, poor healthcare and joblessness. We can’t afford to worry about spotted owls, redwood trees and polar bears.”‘
Jones went on to explain why he believes that racial dynamic is changing.
“Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath taught us that the coming ecological disasters will hit the
