#UNSEEN Climate Change
Our. Heart. Breaks.
We are bearing witness to the brokenness of our climate.
Webster defines climate as follows:
The prevailing influence or environmental conditions characterizing a group or period.
The average course or condition of the weather at a place usually over a period of years as exhibited by temperature, wind velocity, and precipitation.
We call our present day climate issues Systemic Racism and Ecological Devastation. Both are issues of injustice that impact the health and well being of individuals and more broadly our society at large. At some point, there will be a tipping point of no return. Our world experienced this on May 25, when a former Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd. The ensuing riots throughout the world were a cry for change. No longer can we not address the institutional racism that is ingrained in the fabric of our country.
The climate of our environment is also fast approaching a level of CO2 that will not be able to be contained. Global warming, rising sea levels and melting ice caps are just a few of the environmental challenges that we are facing. Extracting and overuse of the earth’s resources is jeopardizing the planet’s livabilty for future generations. We will not be able to breathe clean air if we continue on this path.
Heal. Our. Land.
We are also bearing witness to a call for action for climate change.
This current turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, racism and enviromental distress is changing the trajectory of people and our planet toward a new normal. Having named the issues, we can begin to dismatle the systems that oppress people of color and harm the earth. And yes, we must physically heal the land to reduce carbon emissions, perserve natural resources and invest in renewable energy. We must also acknowledge that this land was stolen from Native Americans and then its landscape built by enslaved Africans. These are the roots of the systemic issues of racism reflected in racial covenants and redlining practices that restricted people of color from living in certain neighborhoods and the policies that supported the building of highway interstates through communities of color. We all have the
power to make different choices, but first we need to listen and re-learn history so that we can change from a place of understanding and empathy. Here are some resources that give insight to these issues:
“Waking Up White” by Debby Irving
“White Fragility” by Robyn D’Angelo
“The Carbon Reader” by the Richard Heinburg and Daniel Lerch
Be. The. Change.
As an African American owned architecture firm, we are hopeful that THIS moment in time will be the catalyst for changing the minds and hearts of this world. We mourn the loss of Mr. Floyd’s life as we know that this could have been one of our family members. Practicing in Minneapolis, where the population is 64% white, we have experienced how Systemic Racism impacts our everyday personal and work life in both subtle and obvious ways. From being mistaken for the Administrative Assistant instead of the Project Manager or being asked to fulfill a box for MBE (Minority Business Entreprise) participation instead of being valued as a creative team member, it is a reality and unfortunately not a unique experience that many people of color face in the workplace. In spite of these incidents, we know that there is good in this world. We have received calls and notes from colleagues and friends to share meaningful dialogue about our current climate. Our world is changing and we believe that there can be beauty from these ashes as we build a better future together with equity and climate justice for all.
