During crises like this pandemic we are re-exposed to the deep inequities and exclusions faced by disenfranchised communities at all levels. On a normal day, those of us who are privileged can afford to disregard or overlook such trauma. But then there are moments where we are forced to reckon with the society we’ve created and all the lives that are continually eviscerated by lack of access. Two incidents occurred that spurred this blog post, though they are not the first of their kind.
Read morePandemic Priorities: supporting alternatives now is promoting a sustainable economy
In the early 1960s, my grandma was a secretary at the Caymanas Sugar Estate in Portmore, Jamaica. She helped the cane cutters who worked on the estate’s land create a credit union. At that time, workers were acknowledging the problematics of who owned the capital and resources on their island. In 1962, Jamaica gained independence from the British, with the hopes of more national equity and securing workers rights. My grandmother understood that helping the cane cutters pool their money to create a credit union was one step closer to liberation from the confines of colonialism and capitalism. At the time she thought of it as a necessity—as the right thing to do—rather than an alternative economy.
Read moreA Series for Oakland: Gentrification is an environmental issue with resilient responses
Gentrification is largely seen as a socio-economic issue affecting urban areas. It is also a political-environmental issue that has devastating effects on Black communities and working class communities across the U.S. Gentrification is not only happening in the U.S., it’s happening all over the world: from Brixton in London to Matonge in Brussels and even the coastal Colombian city of Cartagena.
Read moreNipsey Hussle's Geographies: remapping the hood & opportunities for Black Space
Nipsey Hussle exemplified how Black people, globally, use cooperative economics and a politics of ownership to create necessary services and local economies in our communities / neighborhoods. These are usually the same neighborhoods cities often neglect until there is potential for gentrification. Our environment is much more than the air we breathe, it is also the health and vibrancy, or lack thereof, in our neighborhoods.
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