The Intersectional Environmentalist

How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet

By: Leah Thomas

Narrated by: Leah Thomas, Hayden Bishop, Erin Walker

From the activist who coined the term comes a primer on intersectional environmentalism for the next generation of activists looking to create meaningful, inclusive, and sustainable change.

The Intersectional Environmentalist examines the inextricable link between environmentalism, racism, and privilege, and promotes awareness of the fundamental truth that we cannot save the planet without uplifting the voices of its people -- especially those most often unheard. Written by Leah Thomas, a prominent voice in the field and the activist who coined the term "Intersectional Environmentalism," this book is simultaneously a call to action, a guide to instigating change for all, and a pledge to work towards the empowerment of all people and the betterment of the planet.

Thomas shows how not only are Black, Indigenous and people of color unequally and unfairly impacted by environmental injustices, but she argues that the fight for the planet lies in tandem to the fight for civil rights; and in fact, that one cannot exist without the other. An essential read, this book addresses the most pressing issues that the people and our planet face, examines and dismantles privilege, and looks to the future as the voice of a movement that will define a generation.

Ground in action and thought

Brillant book: written and thoughtful weaves historical, contemporary and effects of enviromental lens of the impact and practical application of the global north. It places BIPOC communities at the center of leading the environmental actions!

So insightful

I especially loved the last chapter as it gave concrete actions we can take every day. It encourages everyone to take action in some way.
Josie

Well written, beautifully narrated

A beautifully told story: wonderfully written, informative, insightful, beautifully told, and so thought provoking. It was comprehensive and left me scrambling for a notebook to scribble thoughts, things to look up, and more resources to continue my own education on the subject.

I do wish it had more action-based guidance for the average reader. However, even without that, it was a perfect primer.

My only critique is the inclusion and push for veganism, as the information presented is skewed towards the authors personal preference. There are many alternatives (where I live) to eating sustainable locally-produced meat that have a smaller environmental impact than much of the processed, packaged, resource-intensive foods that make up a common vegan diet. Push for eating mostly vegetables, less processed food, but veganism too quickly leads to disordered eating and is not the best choice for many people.

Good to cover basics with highschoolers/undergrads

I enjoyed the book. It can be repetitive (and a bit of a slow start) for folks who are already familiar or knowledgeable about environmental justice history and/or who already have a grasp on intersectionality. I still think it's a good book to refer to high school/undergrad students or people new to the topic, younger BIPOC who are diving into the theory and concepts behind their own lived experiences with environmentalism (and society), or for people who have not experienced being a minority and are trying to learn about environmental justice and how to properly practice being an intersectional environmentalist. I have a PhD relating to environmental justice and will keep this book as a basic read for students and mentees. A part II that dives further into exploring intersectional environmentalism as a global movement would be interesting. The author touches a bit on the discrepancy between the Western mindset and other countries in movements like ecofeminisn, and that could be something worth exploring further as there is a lot of debate on the topic when applying the environmental justice framework globally.

Something I did enjoy is that the book would likely resonate with a younger BIPOC audience that is trying to put into words this sentiment of exclusion from movements like environmentalism, climate justice, etc. that they feel/go through. Having a starting point that introduces you to the history and the big figures of environmental justice can be pivotal, especially because it often goes completely ignored in traditional U.S. schooling.

Inspiring

I would recommend this book to anyone that is interested in environmental justice. Gives a comprehensive overview of the oppression of underrepresented communities worldwide under a historically overpowered system.