uly brings a noteworthy confluence of several key elements that come together in one powerful theme: Environmental Justice is Social Justice.
As extreme weather affects millions of people throughout the US and world this summer, poor, disadvantaged communities, especially predominantly Black communities, suffer disproportionately. Studies have shown that people of color are far more likely to die of environmental causes; in fact, environmental racism is often referred to as the new Jim Crow. In this season of rising temperatures and rising anguish, we look to artists who reflect on these disparities in their art, reminding us of the power of art to transform minds—and inspire the courage to take action. Environmental Justice is Social Justice, and these intertwined movements affect everyone who shares our fragile planet.
Music
Left: D’Angelo circa 2000 (Credit: Mark Guthrie); Right: Fela Kuti, 1988, (Credit: Frans Schellekens/Redferns).
D’Angelo, “Water No Get Enemy”
In the heat of one of the most scorching summers ever, rising, record-breaking temperatures and water scarcity threaten everyone—especially the most vulnerable. D’Angelo’s 2011 remake of the late Nigerian Fela Kuti‘s 1975 classic, “Water No Get Enemy,” weaves together an unforgettable narrative of water, life, death, and Black power. The title of the song is based on a Yoruban proverb concerning the power of nature: Live in harmony with nature, Fela advises, and you will live longer and wiser.
Painting
Calida Rawles
Los Angeles-based contemporary visual artist Calida Rawles’s striking images of Black swimmers bring together the past, present, and future—from the Transatlantic Slave Trade to the changing tides of hope. The fusion of water and history is resonant and transformational.
Lightness of Being (2018). Acrylic on canvas by Calida Rawles
Lamar is known for the nuanced, layered meanings of his lyrics and his insightful political/social commentary. His catalog of music raises deep questions about what it means to be human, the struggle of the soul, and the polarity of forces that fight for control.
Featured Writing
NK Jemisin
The literary selection of The Fifth Season by NK Jemison continues this theme in a thought-provoking way. Sci-Fi may not seem at first like an obvious genre for environmental activism, but in Jemisin’s trilogy, social justice takes on staggering new dimensions and the earth itself fights back against those who aim to deplete its resources.
