The Burnside Blog
Why is the Green Movement so White?
An article in today’s Oregonian by staffer Scott Learn notes that while the environmental movement is shifting back into the mainstream consciousness, its associated organizations contain a disproportionately dinky number of non-white employees.
At nearly 78%, Portland is the whitest large city in America, but Learn notes that this isn’t a local issue, but one that persists nationwide. Learn cites University of Michigan study findings that one third of green group and one fifth of green government agencies don’t have a single non-white staffer.
Why is the green movement so white? And, what can be done to increase its appeal to a more diverse pool of talent?
