[Music] the Rose that grew from concrete did you
the Rose that grew from concrete did you
the Rose that grew from concrete did you hear about the rose that grew from a
hear about the rose that grew from a
hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete proving nature’s
crack in the concrete proving nature’s
crack in the concrete proving nature’s laws wrong and learned to walk without
laws wrong and learned to walk without
laws wrong and learned to walk without having feet funny it seems but by
having feet funny it seems but by
having feet funny it seems but by keeping its dreams it learned to breathe
keeping its dreams it learned to breathe
keeping its dreams it learned to breathe fresh air long live the Rose that grew
fresh air long live the Rose that grew
fresh air long live the Rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever
from concrete when no one else ever
from concrete when no one else ever cared tupac shakur poetry and pollution
cared tupac shakur poetry and pollution
cared tupac shakur poetry and pollution global fiction and global warming I know
global fiction and global warming I know
global fiction and global warming I know the difference fears of my talk aren’t
the difference fears of my talk aren’t
the difference fears of my talk aren’t normally associated with each other but
normally associated with each other but
normally associated with each other but here’s how they connect for centuries
here’s how they connect for centuries
here’s how they connect for centuries African Americans were considered to be
African Americans were considered to be
African Americans were considered to be animal rather than human fit to be
animal rather than human fit to be
animal rather than human fit to be bought and sold branded and bred our
bought and sold branded and bred our
bought and sold branded and bred our writers responded by crafting a literary
writers responded by crafting a literary
writers responded by crafting a literary canon that defended our humanity but
canon that defended our humanity but
canon that defended our humanity but they also expressed empathy with the
they also expressed empathy with the
they also expressed empathy with the exploited natural realm and now that our
exploited natural realm and now that our
exploited natural realm and now that our world is in the midst of ecological
world is in the midst of ecological
world is in the midst of ecological disaster now that climate change is
disaster now that climate change is
disaster now that climate change is harming our ecosystems and threatening
harming our ecosystems and threatening
harming our ecosystems and threatening the global food supply the stories and
the global food supply the stories and
the global food supply the stories and poems black artists created are more
poems black artists created are more
poems black artists created are more important than ever because they contain
important than ever because they contain
important than ever because they contain essential insights into how to save our
essential insights into how to save our
essential insights into how to save our planet
planet
planet now I understand if black literature or
now I understand if black literature or
now I understand if black literature or even black people aren’t the first
even black people aren’t the first
even black people aren’t the first resources you think of when it comes to
resources you think of when it comes to
resources you think of when it comes to protecting the environment even
protecting the environment even
protecting the environment even environmental activists Van Jones who is
environmental activists Van Jones who is
environmental activists Van Jones who is African American says in my neighborhood
African American says in my neighborhood
African American says in my neighborhood you go around talking to people about
you go around talking to people about
you go around talking to people about polar bears they are not feeling you Van
polar bears they are not feeling you Van
polar bears they are not feeling you Van Jones is from Oakland California and the
Jones is from Oakland California and the
Jones is from Oakland California and the neighborhood about which he speaks is
neighborhood about which he speaks is
neighborhood about which he speaks is like many places poor urban and black
like many places poor urban and black
like many places poor urban and black his claim makes sense doesn’t it this is
his claim makes sense doesn’t it this is
his claim makes sense doesn’t it this is a nation that can’t even build a
a nation that can’t even build a
a nation that can’t even build a consensus that black lives matter so
consensus that black lives matter so
consensus that black lives matter so polar bears are probably pretty far down
polar bears are probably pretty far down
polar bears are probably pretty far down on the priority list in Oakland Ferguson
on the priority list in Oakland Ferguson
on the priority list in Oakland Ferguson or the Bronx right I disagree after all
or the Bronx right I disagree after all
or the Bronx right I disagree after all it was the African American poet Lucilla
it was the African American poet Lucilla
it was the African American poet Lucilla and who wrote being property once myself
and who wrote being property once myself
and who wrote being property once myself I have a feeling for it that’s why I can
I have a feeling for it that’s why I can
I have a feeling for it that’s why I can talk about environment I argue much of
talk about environment I argue much of
talk about environment I argue much of african-american literature suggests if
african-american literature suggests if
african-american literature suggests if you’re on a journey to a healthier
you’re on a journey to a healthier
you’re on a journey to a healthier planet black people are essential to
planet black people are essential to
planet black people are essential to your project if your aim is to save the
your project if your aim is to save the
your project if your aim is to save the trees he those who are once they’re
trees he those who are once they’re
trees he those who are once they’re strange fruit if you hope to speak for
strange fruit if you hope to speak for
strange fruit if you hope to speak for the voiceless listen to those who are
the voiceless listen to those who are
the voiceless listen to those who are once bound into bits and Bridals listen
once bound into bits and Bridals listen
once bound into bits and Bridals listen to African American literature like
to African American literature like
to African American literature like polar bears African Americans have been
polar bears African Americans have been
polar bears African Americans have been the first to suffer harms harms that
the first to suffer harms harms that
the first to suffer harms harms that have all too often been neglected we
have all too often been neglected we
have all too often been neglected we scream we can’t breathe because of a
scream we can’t breathe because of a
scream we can’t breathe because of a noose because of air pollution because
noose because of air pollution because
noose because of air pollution because of a policeman’s arm around our necks
of a policeman’s arm around our necks
of a policeman’s arm around our necks but it takes so long for the law to hear
but it takes so long for the law to hear
but it takes so long for the law to hear us the thing is though that experience
us the thing is though that experience
us the thing is though that experience of oppression uniquely positions us to
of oppression uniquely positions us to
of oppression uniquely positions us to empathize with and advocate for the
empathize with and advocate for the
empathize with and advocate for the environment not only do black people
environment not only do black people
environment not only do black people care about polar bears but polar bears
care about polar bears but polar bears
care about polar bears but polar bears don’t stand a chance without us in our
don’t stand a chance without us in our
don’t stand a chance without us in our stories let me give you an example Tupac
stories let me give you an example Tupac
stories let me give you an example Tupac Shakur was a hip-hop artist and poet
Shakur was a hip-hop artist and poet
Shakur was a hip-hop artist and poet from Oakland he represented the west
from Oakland he represented the west
from Oakland he represented the west coast during the East Coast West Coast
coast during the East Coast West Coast
coast during the East Coast West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s 20 years
hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s 20 years
hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s 20 years later urban minority communities are
later urban minority communities are
later urban minority communities are still battling on the west coast they’re
still battling on the west coast they’re
still battling on the west coast they’re not fighting for musical dominance but
not fighting for musical dominance but
not fighting for musical dominance but for environmental justice Shakur’s palm
for environmental justice Shakur’s palm
for environmental justice Shakur’s palm points to grim sociological realities
points to grim sociological realities
points to grim sociological realities but it indexes ecological ones too like
but it indexes ecological ones too like
but it indexes ecological ones too like the long odds of youth developing
the long odds of youth developing
the long odds of youth developing healthily in places where the only green
healthily in places where the only green
healthily in places where the only green is what manages to grow up through the
is what manages to grow up through the
is what manages to grow up through the concrete you see green places like parks
concrete you see green places like parks
concrete you see green places like parks and gardens don’t just provide habitats
and gardens don’t just provide habitats
and gardens don’t just provide habitats for trees rabbits and bees their
for trees rabbits and bees their
for trees rabbits and bees their presences increase health benefits and
presences increase health benefits and
presences increase health benefits and lower rates of violence green places
lower rates of violence green places
lower rates of violence green places begin protecting children before they’re
begin protecting children before they’re
begin protecting children before they’re even born when impoverished mothers have
even born when impoverished mothers have
even born when impoverished mothers have access to green space their babies are
access to green space their babies are
access to green space their babies are born with healthier higher birth weights
born with healthier higher birth weights
born with healthier higher birth weights but in California’s there’s extremely
but in California’s there’s extremely
but in California’s there’s extremely unequal access to green
unequal access to green
unequal access to green space in one area of black Los Angeles
space in one area of black Los Angeles
space in one area of black Los Angeles there’s only one playground for every
there’s only one playground for every
there’s only one playground for every 23,000 children in LA’s white
23,000 children in LA’s white
23,000 children in LA’s white neighborhoods there are 32 acres of Park
neighborhoods there are 32 acres of Park
neighborhoods there are 32 acres of Park for every 1,000 people in the black
for every 1,000 people in the black
for every 1,000 people in the black neighborhoods there’s only one point
neighborhoods there’s only one point
neighborhoods there’s only one point seven acres like the size of a large
seven acres like the size of a large
seven acres like the size of a large backyard this poem makes it clear in too
backyard this poem makes it clear in too
backyard this poem makes it clear in too many communities if your skin is black
many communities if your skin is black
many communities if your skin is black green you lack for the Rose in the poem
green you lack for the Rose in the poem
green you lack for the Rose in the poem clean air is a dream just as it is for
clean air is a dream just as it is for
clean air is a dream just as it is for many African American kids they’re much
many African American kids they’re much
many African American kids they’re much more likely than their white buddies to
more likely than their white buddies to
more likely than their white buddies to live in polluted areas with high ozone
live in polluted areas with high ozone
live in polluted areas with high ozone levels that’s why our children die of
levels that’s why our children die of
levels that’s why our children die of asthma at seven times the rate of their
asthma at seven times the rate of their
asthma at seven times the rate of their white peers only one in every ten white
white peers only one in every ten white
white peers only one in every ten white children suffers from asthma for black
children suffers from asthma for black
children suffers from asthma for black kids it’s more like one in five black
kids it’s more like one in five black
kids it’s more like one in five black kids live with and die from asthma at
kids live with and die from asthma at
kids live with and die from asthma at higher rates than whites but for kids
higher rates than whites but for kids
higher rates than whites but for kids like those in Oakland the situation is
like those in Oakland the situation is
like those in Oakland the situation is even worse because there’s a class
even worse because there’s a class
even worse because there’s a class component to the biggest risk factors
component to the biggest risk factors
component to the biggest risk factors for asthma are simply being black or
for asthma are simply being black or
for asthma are simply being black or Puerto Rican and poor these verses found
Puerto Rican and poor these verses found
Puerto Rican and poor these verses found the alarm it is a struggle simply to
the alarm it is a struggle simply to
the alarm it is a struggle simply to breathe while black long live the Rose
breathe while black long live the Rose
breathe while black long live the Rose that grew from concrete when no one else
that grew from concrete when no one else
that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared the poems last lines speak of
ever cared the poems last lines speak of
ever cared the poems last lines speak of an indifference all too familiar to the
an indifference all too familiar to the
an indifference all too familiar to the marginalize they grieve the fact society
marginalize they grieve the fact society
marginalize they grieve the fact society often seems not to care that people of
often seems not to care that people of
often seems not to care that people of color and the poor bear more than their
color and the poor bear more than their
color and the poor bear more than their share of environmental burdens but
share of environmental burdens but
share of environmental burdens but receive less than their share of
receive less than their share of
receive less than their share of environmental benefits our plight
environmental benefits our plight
environmental benefits our plight inspires our literature but it doesn’t
inspires our literature but it doesn’t
inspires our literature but it doesn’t seem to be inspiring policy now it’s not
seem to be inspiring policy now it’s not
seem to be inspiring policy now it’s not as though there aren’t laws on the books
as though there aren’t laws on the books
as though there aren’t laws on the books in shakoora state aimed at protecting
in shakoora state aimed at protecting
in shakoora state aimed at protecting both nature and vulnerable human
both nature and vulnerable human
both nature and vulnerable human populations but those laws are piecemeal
populations but those laws are piecemeal
populations but those laws are piecemeal they’re these single issue bills that
they’re these single issue bills that
they’re these single issue bills that treat things like toxic waste cleanup
treat things like toxic waste cleanup
treat things like toxic waste cleanup and reduction in diesel emissions they
and reduction in diesel emissions they
and reduction in diesel emissions they leave brutal gaps in the ecological
leave brutal gaps in the ecological
leave brutal gaps in the ecological protections they hope to offer because
protections they hope to offer because
protections they hope to offer because they Center on environmental sins rather
they Center on environmental sins rather
they Center on environmental sins rather than on the
than on the
than on the to my’s populations Shakur’s poem a
to my’s populations Shakur’s poem a
to my’s populations Shakur’s poem a reference a rose that proves nature’s
reference a rose that proves nature’s
reference a rose that proves nature’s law wrong but it also illuminates what
law wrong but it also illuminates what
law wrong but it also illuminates what laws dealing with nature get wrong in
laws dealing with nature get wrong in
laws dealing with nature get wrong in contrast to california’s legislation
contrast to california’s legislation
contrast to california’s legislation Shakur’s poem takes an integrated look
Shakur’s poem takes an integrated look
Shakur’s poem takes an integrated look at the oppression that keeps both plants
at the oppression that keeps both plants
at the oppression that keeps both plants and people from thriving it referenced
and people from thriving it referenced
and people from thriving it referenced his lack of green space lack of fresh
his lack of green space lack of fresh
his lack of green space lack of fresh air and environmental injustice all in
air and environmental injustice all in
air and environmental injustice all in eight lines but what if California
eight lines but what if California
eight lines but what if California allowed African American literature to
allowed African American literature to
allowed African American literature to inform the way it does law well it might
inform the way it does law well it might
inform the way it does law well it might do something radical
do something radical
do something radical it might make environmental laws that
it might make environmental laws that
it might make environmental laws that are actually civil rights laws you see
are actually civil rights laws you see
are actually civil rights laws you see Shakur’s poem reminds us of what current
Shakur’s poem reminds us of what current
Shakur’s poem reminds us of what current environmental laws just don’t understand
environmental laws just don’t understand
environmental laws just don’t understand that oppressed people don’t experience
that oppressed people don’t experience
that oppressed people don’t experience injustice in separate parts but as a
injustice in separate parts but as a
injustice in separate parts but as a coherent whole something the Civil
coherent whole something the Civil
coherent whole something the Civil Rights Act of 1964 also recognizes the
Rights Act of 1964 also recognizes the
Rights Act of 1964 also recognizes the act outlaw segregation and
act outlaw segregation and
act outlaw segregation and discrimination in a broad array of
discrimination in a broad array of
discrimination in a broad array of arenas by placing racial minorities
arenas by placing racial minorities
arenas by placing racial minorities rather than individual racial and
rather than individual racial and
rather than individual racial and justices at the center of the act
justices at the center of the act
justices at the center of the act it bans several different forms of
it bans several different forms of
it bans several different forms of inequity at once
inequity at once
inequity at once offering blanket protection we need to
offering blanket protection we need to
offering blanket protection we need to make environmental laws like that we
make environmental laws like that we
make environmental laws like that we need to craft policies that our
need to craft policies that our
need to craft policies that our community rather than issue focus and
community rather than issue focus and
community rather than issue focus and compound several matters I’m talking
compound several matters I’m talking
compound several matters I’m talking about laws that outline humans the green
about laws that outline humans the green
about laws that outline humans the green civil rights funny it seems making
civil rights funny it seems making
civil rights funny it seems making environmental laws that are actually
environmental laws that are actually
environmental laws that are actually people centered but much of African
people centered but much of African
people centered but much of African American literature reminds us that
American literature reminds us that
American literature reminds us that human nature decisions are false because
human nature decisions are false because
human nature decisions are false because blacks exist in a shared and fragile
blacks exist in a shared and fragile
blacks exist in a shared and fragile ecology with nature what’s good for
ecology with nature what’s good for
ecology with nature what’s good for blacks is good for the environment a
blacks is good for the environment a
blacks is good for the environment a world in which African Americans thrive
world in which African Americans thrive
world in which African Americans thrive is one that will foster roses it’s
is one that will foster roses it’s
is one that will foster roses it’s simple protect the environmental rights
simple protect the environmental rights
simple protect the environmental rights of marginalized people and you protect
of marginalized people and you protect
of marginalized people and you protect the environment itself to make the best
the environment itself to make the best
the environment itself to make the best green policy consult black prose and
green policy consult black prose and
green policy consult black prose and poetry slave narratives will be the
poetry slave narratives will be the
poetry slave narratives will be the cooling force that saves polar bears
cooling force that saves polar bears
cooling force that saves polar bears hip-hop will be the filter that cleans
hip-hop will be the filter that cleans
hip-hop will be the filter that cleans our air african-american literature will
our air african-american literature will
our air african-american literature will water the Rose that grew from concrete
water the Rose that grew from concrete
water the Rose that grew from concrete because green green is just the new
because green green is just the new
because green green is just the new black
black
black [Applause]
”
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