Better Earth for Better Health
Earth Day is for Black people too! The fight for the environment is a fight for health.
I am writing this on my screened-in porch. The dogwood trees bloom, and a few robins provide the soundtrack. Being outdoors always lifts my spirit, whether on the porch or by the beach. I am privileged to have access to these spaces, especially as a black woman. There is a nature gap in Philadelphia (where I grew up) and many other cities. Black neighborhoods have 44% less park space when compared to white neighborhoods. People from marginalized backgrounds are three times as likely to live in a nature-deprived area. This is primarily a result of racist and discriminatory housing policies, like redlining and disinvestment. Black neighborhoods tend to have less access to green space and are often plagued by pollution. Highways are built first in our communities, and toxic waste is dumped. A stark example is the Flint, Michigan, water crisis. And sadly, when green space is available to black people, we are often harassed or worse, as the Christian Cooper and the Ahmaud Arbery cases demonstrate.
Access to natural spaces is more than just nice, it’s essential to health. Our bodies need clean water and air to function well. Time spent in nature encourages exercise, increases social interaction, reduces stress, diabetes, heart disease, and even cancer. Getting outside is an excellent way to combat the effects of weathering.
What you can do
Take a stand and fight for environmental justice because everyone has a right to a healthy environment, regardless of race, creed, or color. Vote for policies that protect the Earth and reduce the misuse of natural spaces. Please take advantage of the natural spaces you have around you and volunteer to maintain them. Live sustainably and reduce waste.
Odds & Ends
This essay from Nicole S. Palmer highlights the microaggressions and targeting black women often fall victim to in professional and corporate spaces—an illustration of ongoing stress in the workplace that can result in weathering.
I’m recommending The Yellow House by Sarah Broom this week. This story of a neglected New Orleans black neighborhood highlights the impact of the environment on family and community.
Next week, I’ll post my first disease spotlight on high blood pressure. Look out for it to learn how to fight this common condition.
References and further reading:
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/05/27/parks-philadelphia-equity-report/
https://www.stlamerican.com/your-health-matters/health-opinion/benefits-of-time-in-greenspaces-abound/
https://hsph.harvard.edu/news/spend-time-outdoors-itll-improve-your-health-say-experts/
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/21/climate/earth-day-what-to-do.html
https://wordinblack.com/2023/04/yes-earth-day-is-for-black-folk/
https://chicagopolicyreview.org/2020/09/23/racial-disparity-in-access-to-public-green-space/
Great article! Loved it. We do need more green spaces for Black and POC communities. Less fast food places in poor communities and more green spaces.
There is more tree coverage in neighborhoods not redlined versus redlined neighborhoods. Take North Philadelphia vs Manayunk. The evidence is right in our faces. Great read. Thank you for bringing awareness.