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(Social Justice)


LEAH THOMAS IS REDEFINING THE ENVIRONMENTALISM SPACE FOR BLACK WOMEN

The activist on climate justice and the whitewashing of sustainability.

By Janell M. Hickman-Kirby
4.28.2021
Photo: Ye Rin Mok



Like the wellness space, the “faces” of environmentalism haven’t been presented
as a particularly diverse group. Oftentimes, those positioned at the forefront
of climate change and environmental justice come across as elitist, rather than
inclusive, despite the fact that multiple issues disproportionately affect
communities of color at higher rates. (FYI: Residents in Flint, Michigan still
don’t have clean drinking water.) But Leah Thomas, intersectional
environmentalist, founder of eco-lifestyle blog @greengirlleah,
@thegreensgirlco, and The Intersectional Environmentalist Platform, is out to
change that.


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Born in Florissant, Missouri and now residing in Santa Barbara, California,
Thomas found herself literally at the intersection of juggling her reality as a
Black woman and her concern for the environment at large. Could she do both? The
answer is a resounding yes.

By definition, “Intersectional environmentalism, a term largely inspired by
Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw and her work with critical race theory, is an
inclusive form of environmentalism that advocates for the protection of all
people and the planet. It identifies the ways in which injustices affecting
marginalized communities and Mother Earth are interconnected.”

I asked Thomas, a year after COVID-19 lockdowns and the anniversary of George
Floyd’s death if her perspective of intersectional environmentalism has shifted.
“Personally, I still do stand by the definition. However, I think that it's
something that needs to evolve and I think this year I've drawn even closer to
maybe more Black feminist ideologies even more,” she explains. “Just the
specificity of holding space for myself as a Black woman, because I think at
times I would feel the need to use terms like ‘BIPOC’ or ‘people of color,’ when
it’s really Ok for Black women to just take up space, feel seen, heard, and
ultimately, validated.”

> 



Thomas is quickly becoming a prominent voice in the environmental space, having
already been featured in Vogue, W, Teen Vogue, National Geographic,and more,
placing a much-need emphasis on how the environment and race are intrinsically
intertwined. “I've also learned about what intersectionality can look like for
other people. I've been learning about anti-Semitism, disability rights, and the
current Stop Asian Hate movement,” she explains. “So, on one end of the section,
I'm growing even closer and just taking a deep dive into Black feminism and on
the other end of the spectrum, it's expanded my mind even more to so many things
that I haven't thought about. There are many other underrepresented groups that
I think that I can be a better advocate for, and center more in my work.”

Privilege is a common theme that Thomas is working hard to dismantle. “It's
frustrating to me, even when climate scientists act like if you didn't get a
degree — which is in many ways a privilege — but you can't speak on these
issues. There are so many people, especially people of color, who are living
with the realities of the climate crisis every day with higher incidences of air
pollution, or water pollution. So to me, these are people that we should be
talking to and considering even more. The gatekeeping in this space was really
apparent. I think it's funny having more of a public platform now, there's a lot
of people who want to tell me what advocacy should look like.”

Instead of looking at others with judgment, Thomas tries to meet people where
they are, especially on the sustainability front. She previously worked on the
PR team at Patagonia and saw up-close-and-personal how making internal shifts
takes work. “[For example] if one of my followers is a Target shopper, maybe I
can point them in the right direction of a more sustainable beauty product or
piece of clothing. [Making change] doesn’t have to be super difficult or
inaccessible. I used to be really stern like ‘people have to buy ethical and
sustainable and organic,’ but then I didn't realize I'm just preaching to the
choir and I really want to get other people involved and think that they can be
environmentalists.”

Unfortunately, there has also been a “Colombusing” of sorts in the
sustainability arena, like the gentrification of thrift shopping without credit
given to BIPOC or lower-income communities. “There are so many people who only
thrift shop because that's the only thing available to them. So, by default, you
should also call them environmentalists, too,” says Thomas.

> 



She explains that, “It's hard for me to listen to a white, wealthy, sustainable
fashion influencer, shaming people, especially BIPOC for shopping at fast
fashion stores, while they promote a ‘sustainable shirt’ for $300. And, that
influencer is likely gifted that item anyway. So, yes it’s easy to preach that
mindset, or maybe they can afford it, but they aren’t recognizing the real price
barriers there. I hope people realize that shame, especially shaming people of
color, isn’t beneficial in this space.”

But Thomas is realistic about what is feasible in terms of individual
sustainability practices, especially within the fashion space. As she says, “[In
my opinion] there's an over-focus on the individual and not the corporation
necessarily. I'm never going to shame someone — even if they're shopping a
sustainable H&M collection. Maybe that's the only thing that's accessible to
them. And that's the first step that they can take.”

To expand her mission’s reach, Thomas launched The Intersectional
Environmentalist Platform last June. She describes her launch as “really fun”
and a resource to those curious about climate justice. “People can visit our
website or Instagram, and they can find a compilation of organizations to
support. They can find case studies, we're showing you how to do those and also
a bunch of resources.”

If you follow Thomas on Instagram, one of her pillars is encouraging BIPOC
people to find joy outdoors. “I feel like it's something that Black people,
particularly Black women, have to reclaim in so many ways. Growing up in the
Midwest and spending time in the South, there was real fear in my family about
going hiking. Scary stories of if you go out into the woods, you might not come
back. There's really deeply rooted trauma within the Black community when it
comes to nature. I feel like in so many ways I always had this hesitancy to
venture out.”

> 

“However, in the last couple of years, I've been going out with groups like
Outdoor Afro or with my friends who are people of color and reclaiming these
spaces — being in nature is a part of what I feel like our ancestors did. So,
there's a special joy of Black people being carefree outside, given the
historical context in the United States specifically,” she adds.

Ultimately, Thomas wants to remind people that this journey is personal. “[My
advocacy] can look like me talking about climate justice, and then talking about
vegan food, and then dancing, and then doing a partnership. But I'm like, you
know what? This is what I want to do. I'm a holistic person. And I think we need
to remember the humanity of people, if you even ask for this, and allow them to
experience joy at the same time. I like skin care. I like taking care of myself.
I like experiencing joy. I like little scrubs. [This is] a way for me to balance
out the trauma of talking about injustice happening to the Black community.”


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