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Afro Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice: Decolonizing Feminisms

Levi Powell

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Published in Making Livable Worlds: Afro Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice (Decolonizing Feminisms)

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In the face of pressing environmental challenges, Afro-Puerto Rican women are emerging as powerful forces in the fight for environmental justice. Their unique perspectives, rooted in the intersections of race, gender, and colonialism, empower them to challenge dominant narratives and advocate for transformative change.

The Colonial Legacy and Environmental Racism

Puerto Rico's colonial history has left a lasting legacy of environmental racism, with Afro-Puerto Ricans and other marginalized communities disproportionately affected by pollution, toxic waste, and environmental degradation.

Making Livable Worlds: Afro-Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice (Decolonizing Feminisms)

by Ernest Becker

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
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Afro Puerto Rican Women Protesting Environmental Injustice Making Livable Worlds: Afro Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice (Decolonizing Feminisms)

For instance, the infamous Vieques bombing range, where the US military conducted live ammunition exercises for decades, caused significant health problems and environmental damage to the nearby Vieques community, largely composed of Afro-Puerto Ricans.

Afro-Puerto Rican Women's Contributions

Afro-Puerto Rican women have played a crucial role in raising awareness about these injustices and demanding accountability. They have organized grassroots movements, conducted research, and advocated for policy changes that address environmental racism.

One such leader is Ruth Santiago, who founded the organization Comité Dialogo Ambiental to empower Vieques residents to fight against the bombing range. Her efforts helped lead to the closure of the range in 2003, a major victory for the environmental justice movement.

Decolonizing Feminisms

Afro-Puerto Rican women's activism is rooted in decolonizing feminisms, which recognize the unique experiences and struggles of women of color and challenge patriarchal and colonial power structures.

Afro Puerto Rican Women Engaging In Community Organizing Making Livable Worlds: Afro Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice (Decolonizing Feminisms)

These perspectives emphasize the importance of intersectionality, recognizing how race, gender, class, and other factors intersect to shape women's experiences and the challenges they face.

Challenges and Successes

Afro-Puerto Rican women environmental activists face numerous challenges, including racism, sexism, and limited resources. However, they have also achieved significant successes.

In 2021, Puerto Rico passed a groundbreaking law establishing the Puerto Rico Climate Change Council, which includes representation from Afro-Puerto Rican environmental organizations. This law is a testament to the growing influence of Afro-Puerto Rican women in shaping environmental policy.

Afro-Puerto Rican women are at the forefront of the environmental justice movement, using their unique perspectives and experiences to challenge dominant narratives and advocate for transformative change. Their work is essential for building a more just and sustainable future for Puerto Rico and beyond.

Through grassroots organizing, research, and policy advocacy, Afro-Puerto Rican women are decolonizing feminisms and empowering communities to fight for environmental justice and a better tomorrow.

Making Livable Worlds: Afro-Puerto Rican Women Building Environmental Justice (Decolonizing Feminisms)

by Ernest Becker

5 out of 5