In an interview with Yessenia Funes, climate and environmental activist Jacqueline Patterson reflects on the legacy of Black communities, culture, and history, and their connections to the environmental movement. Patterson is the founder and director of The Chisholm Legacy Project, a Black-led climate organization working to empower Black communities. Patterson’s ideas of legacy reflect the spirit and work of Shirley Chisholm, a prominent leader. She first discusses cultural heritage and connection to the land. She notes how Black people were historically conservationists for survival, which fostered a kinship and understanding of the land that continues today. She also discusses the culture of the community that formed. She believes this legacy is crucial in environmental justice movements. Community fodders leadership and leadership fodders self-determination, which is a powerful tool in resisting inequities. BIPOC communities are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice, and these legacies have historically fought this. Patterson highlights the Black women and youth on the frontlines of environmental, economic, and racial justice initiatives that continue these legacies. She emphasizes that the sustenance of these legacies and the continuation of positive change must center around the wellness of those embodying these ideas. Justice movements centered on community and liberation will lead to systemic transformation. Photo credit: Jacqueline Patterson/Atmos
