Aziria Mason
Decatur, GA
2024, Senior, Creative Writing

Growing up in Greenwood, Mississippi, I’ve always connected deeply to the land. My ancestors worked this soil, endured the blazing sun and torrential rains, and found ways to thrive despite the odds. But over the past few years, something has changed. The weather has become more unpredictable and extreme, and the impacts of climate change have become a personal reality for me and my community. My name is Aziria Mason, and I am a 17-year-old Black girl living in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Our town is small, with a close-knit community where everyone knows each other. We’ve always faced our share of challenges, but nothing prepared us for the tornado that tore through our lives last spring. It was a warm April afternoon, and the sky had an eerie, greenish hue I’d never seen before. My grandmother, Julie, always said that when the sky turns green, it signifies trouble. As the wind picked up, I could feel a sense of unease growing in my chest. We’d had tornado warnings before, but something about this felt different. The fear and uncertainty were palpable, and I couldn’t help but wonder if this was the new normal. I was home with my younger brother, Micheal, when the sirens started blaring. We quickly grabbed our emergency kit and rushed to the storm cellar, as My grandmother Julie had taught us. As we huddled together in the dark, we could hear the roar of the tornado approaching. It sounded like a freight train, loud and unstoppable. The walls of our house shook, and I prayed harder than I ever had in my life. When the storm finally passed, we emerged from the cellar to find our world upside down. Our home was in ruins, trees were uprooted, and power lines were down. The streets were littered with debris, and the once-familiar landscape was almost unrecognizable. It was a scene of devastation that I’d only ever seen on the news, and now it was our reality.

In the aftermath of the tornado, our community rallied together like never before. Neighbors lent a helping hand, sharing food, water, and comfort. Despite the devastation, a spirit of resilience and determination permeated the air. We were not going to let this storm break us. This unity, this resilience, is what gives me hope for our future. As we rebuilt our lives, I couldn’t help but think about how climate change affected us. The Mississippi Delta, already vulnerable to flooding, is experiencing more frequent and severe storms due to climate change. Tornadoes have always been a part of life in the South, but scientists say they are becoming more frequent and intense due to the changing climate. Rising temperatures and shifting weather patterns create the perfect conditions for these deadly storms. My journey of understanding and action began. I delved into research, learning about the greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels that trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to more extreme weather events. I read about the melting polar ice caps, rising sea levels, and the devastating wildfires out West. It was overwhelming, but it ignited a fire in me to take action. This journey, this fire, is what I hope will inspire you to join me.

Inspired by what I learned, I helped put a group of young people dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and pushing for solutions to help the community out. The alliance became more than just a group-it was a community that supported and encouraged me. We organized community cleanups, planted trees, and held educational workshops. We even contacted local officials to advocate for policies to make our town more resilient to future storms. Through our collective efforts, we were making a difference. One of our most impactful initiatives was the creation of a community garden. It not only provided fresh, healthy food for our neighbors but also helped reduce our carbon footprint. Plants absorb carbon dioxide, one of the leading greenhouse gases, and release oxygen. By growing our own food, we were also cutting down on the emissions associated with transporting produce from far away. This is a small step, but it’s a step in the right direction. Your individual actions, no matter how small, can make a difference. I also started a blog to share our experiences and inspire others to take action. I wrote about the tornado, our recovery, and the steps we were taking to fight climate change. I shared stories of hope and resilience, highlighting our community’s strength and youth activism’s power. Through my writing, I wanted to show that we could make a difference even in the face of immense challenges.As I delved deeper into my climate activism, I found strength in my heritage. My ancestors faced unimaginable hardships, from slavery to segregation, yet they persevered. They fought for their rights and built a better future for their descendants. I realized this same resilience was in my blood, giving me the courage to keep pushing for change.

I often talked with My grandmother about what I was learning and doing. She told me stories about how our family had always relied on the land, understood the seasons, and respected nature. She reminded me that we are stewards of this earth and are responsible for protecting it for future generations. Her wisdom and guidance were instrumental in shaping my understanding of climate change and resilience. My grandmother’s wisdom guided me as I navigated the challenges of climate activism. She taught me that while the fight might be hard, giving up was not an option. We had to keep going, not just for ourselves but for those who came before us and those who would go after. The challenges were many-from convincing local officials to take climate change seriously to organizing community events with limited resources-but we were determined to make a difference. As I stand on the brink of adulthood, I am hopeful and anxious about the future. Climate change is one of the biggest challenges that humanity has ever faced, and the stakes are incredibly high. But I believe in the power of young people to drive change. We are inheriting this planet, and it’s up to us to take bold, decisive action.

Through my experiences, I’ve learned that solutions to climate change are not just about reducing emissions or planting trees. They’re about building more robust, more resilient communities. They address social and economic inequalities and ensure everyone can access clean air, water, and energy. They’re about fostering a deep connection to the natural world and understanding that we are all part of a larger ecosystem. The tornado that ripped through Greenwood was a wake-up call but also brought our community closer together. It showed us that we are capable of incredible resilience and that when we work together, we can overcome the most daunting challenges. As we rebuild, we are restoring what was lost and creating a better, more sustainable future. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to take action. Whether it’s joining a local climate group, starting a community garden, or learning more about the issues, every little bit helps. Individual actions, like reducing your carbon footprint or advocating for sustainable practices, can have a significant impact. Together, we can create a world where people and the planet can thrive. This is my climate story, and it is just the beginning.

Works Cited

HIBT Lab! Tomorrow.io: Shimon Elkabetz | podcast episode by Guy Raz – Upcarta. https://www.upcarta.com/resources/68662-hibt-lab-tomorrowio-shimon-elkabetz

Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact and Research – Blue and Green Tomorrow. https://blueandgreentomorrow.com/tag/potsdam-institute-for-climate-impact-and-research/

Resilience | Growing Returns. https://blogs.edf.org/growingreturns/tag/resilience/

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The Tornado and Our Resilience: A Climate Story