How racism is ruining our environment | Shaylon Walker | TEDxBU

When coming to college, I was astounded by the easy access to public transportation, public parks/green spaces, and fresh foods even while living in a city. As I began to explore more, I found myself introduced to the world of sustainability that surrounds a place like Boston. I soon began working in the field of sustainability which only led to more questions. Why didn’t these types of things exist so easily back home in Atlanta? Why were the Black Areas that I grew up in so neglected in city planning and sustainability efforts? I began to look for answers. In my findings, I saw all roads led to Georgia's history of intense racism and redlining as the root cause of the current conditions still plaguing these majority Black neighborhoods. Since then I have made it my mission to bring awareness to the struggles faced by many sharing my identities in my hometown, and the many other communities made up predominantly of POC that face strikingly similar environmental effects currently. Shaylon is a senior, studying Religion and African-American studies at Boston University. Since coming to Boston, Shay has been involved in organizing and furthering efforts that promote sustainability. Shay advocates for the inclusion of Black communities in these efforts, recognizing that those with this identity are at a heightened risk of being negatively impacted by climate change despite minimal contributions. As a student, Shaylon works as a Resident Sustainability Leader and photographer for the Howard Thurman Center. Shay also works off-campus as the Community Engagement Manager for REFORM, a prison reform organization founded by Jay-Z and Meek Mill. In their free time, they serve as President of Swipes for Boston, an organization dedicated to the distribution of hand-packaged, donated meals to those facing food insecurity in the streets of Boston. Shay enjoys public speaking, taking walks, and educating others on the importance of being conscious about the state of our earth. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx