January 2025
As we step into the new year, many of us are setting big goals, whether that's hitting the gym, investing in our mental wellness, or diving into more books. But let’s be real, self-improvement can get expensive, overwhelming, and time-consuming. And sometimes, we face barriers we don’t even realize. Like why is the closest gym and fresh produce so far away?? It’s a tough reality that can be linked to systemic issues like racism.
Limited access to nutritious food and exercise facilities is not just an inconvenience—it’s a direct result of historical inequities and policies that have shaped our built environment. To learn more, check out our blogs about the long-term impacts of segregation and food deserts in Black and brown communities.
Understanding our history and being educated is more important than ever, especially with the rise of critical race theory bans in the United States, which the incoming administration is likely to bolster. But this is where GPE comes in, dropping some serious gems. We’ve rounded up our top 10 picks—across various mediums like art, film, and literature—that delve into the beauty and complexity of Black history and eco-identity.
How Black Women Have Reimagined Nature On-Screen
Who here has watched Beyonce Bowl for the hundredth time? Me!🙋🏾♀️ Queen Bey is an icon and Dr. Chelsea Mikael Frazier, a scholar who defined Black Feminist Ecological Thought,unpacks how black women like Beyonce have been weaving ecology and climate change into pop culture, highlighting the powerful connection between Black womanhood, nature, and environmental justice.
“Black people don’t even swim, how can they surf?” This documentary explores the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and Jim Crow segregation laws in the erasure of Black contributions to surfing culture. Through the lens of Black surfers, the film challenges the stereotype of surfing as a “white man’s sport.” 🏄🏾♀️
Been Outside: Adventures of Black Women, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming People in Nature
The essays and poems in Been Outside feature leading Black women and nonbinary scientists sharing the moments that sparked their love for nature. Proceeds from the book benefit Humble Hustle supporting Black youth in the outdoors.
The Aunties: From the North Star to the Poplar
“As Black queer and trans people, the archive of our stories is often so small. When we’re talking about environmental justice, it’s even smaller.” The Aunties, a short documentary produced by and starring Black queer women, traces the couple’s origin story, their relationship to Harriet Tubman’s legacy, and the ongoing work they do on the farm promoting climate justice in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay.👩🏾🌾
Based on a short story by Derrick Bell, a lawyer, professor, and civil rights activist, The Space Traders is a short sci-fi film in which aliens offer advanced technology to the U.S. in exchange for the nation's Black population. The film is a satirical take on race and exploitation and is part of a three-
part anthology produced by HBO.
The Secret to Clean Energy: Addressing Root Causes of Energy Burden
We've all heard our moms say, "Close the door to keep the air in, and turn off the lights to save energy." Yet, despite their energy conservation efforts, Black and brown communities often pay the highest energy bills. Why is that? GPE Founder and ED, Diamond Spratling, breaks down the concept of energy burden and explains how communities of color are disproportionately affected by this issue.
Overheated is an annual event hosted by Billie Eilish and Support + Feed that brings together climate activists, artists, and leaders for discussions, community building, and resources to tackle the climate crisis. This year, the event took place in Atlanta, featuring conversations on the power of storytelling through art and music, the impact of plant-based eating, sustainable fashion, voting, and more!
In late August 1619, a ship arrived in Virginia with twenty to thirty enslaved Africans, marking the beginning of American chattel slavery, which lasted for 250 years. The 1619 Project book explores the legacy of slavery in present-day America through thirty-six poems and works of fiction. This lesson plan, created using 1619 Project resources, examines the interconnected issues of environmental racism, environmental degradation, and their links to systemic racism.
California African American Museum
“In the natural world, I find a generative space. A sensational vastness of nature where the grandness of my Black existence, beyond societal constraints, is reflected and held.” Browse CAAM’s online exhibitions featuring We Are Not Strangers Here: African American Histories in Rural California and Tatyana Fazlalizadeh - Speaking to Falling Seeds, both of which explore the experiences of Black communities and their relationship with the natural environment.
National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Searchable Museum is a free, online platform that allows users to explore the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) collections from anywhere in the world. The platform features artifacts such as the Green Motorist's Green Book, the Atlanta Washerwomen Strike exhibit, and many other pivotal aspects of Black history in the U.S.
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