Reflection

Reflection

Because the contributions of non-white activists are often ignored, I chose an abecedarian form that allowed me to highlight the lives and actions of several BIPOC climate activists from around the world, showing how central they are to climate activism. As a person of color, I feel it is especially important to listen to and amplify the voices of non-white activists because our communities are disproportionately affected by climate change. People from marginalized and low-income communities are more likely to live in heavily polluted areas and to die of environmental causes than people from affluent White communities (Patnaik et al.) Although I found the abecedarian form challenging, I am glad I pushed myself to write one because through my research, I discovered activists I hadn’t previously known of, and I hope my poem has introduced some to you, too.