We’ve heard of sustainability, environmentalism, and intersectionality, but what do they have to do with each other? Absolutely everything!

Intersectional environmentalism is “an inclusive approach to environmentalism that advocates for the protection of both people + the planet.” This term was coined by writer, activist, and environmentalist Leah Thomas. Inspired by the Black women she grew up with in her hometown of Florissant, Missouri, she has known and seen how Black and Indigenous People of Color have been left out of environmentalist conversations for so long.

Facing Injustice

While studying environmentalism during her undergraduate years, Leah Thomas did not see herself reflected in the faces of those “pioneers” of the movement. Feeling unseen and the lack of attention on community, she had to search outside of academia to find her heroes. In a piece with Vogue Daily, Thomas remarks, “that’s what’s extra special about Black environmental history: it’s supportive and rooted in community.”

Burdened also by the tragic realities of Black Americans, especially during the summer of 2020, with the murders of unarmed Black people, such as Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and Breonna Taylor, Thomas felt unrooted in academic spaces. In her book, The Intersectional Environmentalist, Thomas recalls her feelings from her environmental classes, “how could I think about the Clean Air Act when my community was burning with smoke and tear gas?” Academic spaces failed over and over to acknowledge the important connections between race, gender, and socioeconomic status in teaching about the history of and current state of environmentalism. So she left.

The subject of environmental injustice was a topic that was often dismissed by her peers and professors, so Thomas took her knowledge and research and began to reimagine what environmentalism looked like for her. In May of 2020, she dropped this ground-breaking series of graphics on Instagram, tagging nearly two dozen activists that inspired her, amassing her thousands of new followers, including the likes of major environmental organizations like Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion, and the Sierra Club.

Intersectional Environmentalist

With the help of Dianria Marizet, Thomas’ work took off in the form of founding Intersectional Environmentalist, a grassroots, community-based organization with a mission to “bridge the understanding gap and provide accessible educational resources for those who want to learn and guidance and direction for organizations looking to shift their narrative.” The organization offers all kinds of services and resources for those interested in learning more about intersectional environmentalism, like training resources for those wishing to educate others. They also offer insight into the many facets of environmentalism, including connections to food justice and sovereignty, Indigenous environmentalism, and what is titled “The Black Woman Savior trope toolkit”. 

Since the organization’s launch in 2020, their reach has grown significantly. In that time, they’ve partnered with many major brands such as Tazo, Atoms, and Impossible Foods, creating opportunities such as internships, educational outreach programs, and live virtual cooking experiences.

With a team fourteen-strong, what they have created together will outlive all of us. On their site, you’ll find a pledge with nearly 200k signatures commiting to solidarity, proactivity in environmentalism, and consciousness-raising. If you're interested in intersectional environmentalism, take the pledge, follow their socials, and get involved in your local communities. There’s a niche for everyone within the broader field, so you’ll find a home there whatever you're into.