So Fresh and So Green | Madam Toussaint on Going Green, Art, Hip Hop, and Politics

“I believe that you shouldn’t have to leave your neighborhood to live in a better one.”

Majora Carter is a Black environmental activist. And you thought it couldn’t be done! I tried to told you- there are others!!!

If you’ve never heard of Majora Carter you will. Here’s the short version of her story: She “greened the ghetto”.

That was pretty short so here’s a bit more detail. Majora Carter founded a non profit called Sustainable South Bronx (you know, the birthplace of Hip Hop in New York City). This foundation pioneered green-collar job training and placement systems in one of the most environmentally and economically challenged parts of the US.

Carter was recently on NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams in a segment called Greening the Urban Jungle.

If this is your first introduction to this former TED Convention speaker then I’m proud to be the one to bring her words to you!

UPDATE: That video was disabled so I decided to bring you this instead from the 2007 TED Convention. If you don’t know what TED is you probably need some in your life- ted.com

Here is MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter as she “details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx — and shows how minority neighborhood suffer most from flawed urban policy.” They referred to this speech as “an emotionally charged talk” but really what else should you get emotional about. She’s talking about herself, her people and her home.

Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto

Check out what Majora Carter is working on now at majoracartergroup.com

Publisher Merriam–Webster has offered new words for 2009 to be entered into their dictionaries. “Many of the new words address: concerns about the environment (carbon footprint, green collar), government activities (earmark, waterboarding),” and “pop culture (docusoap, fan fiction, flash mob, reggaeton)”. This year it seems there is some controversy though and not just from grammar cops like me. Green collar job promoters Green For All object to the popular dictionary’s definition of “green jobs”.

According to greenforall.org: “The dictionary defines “green-collar” as:

‘of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment’.

This definition falls flat in a couple of different ways. Chief among them is that “Green-collar” doesn’t make a whole lot of sense unless it is in reference to jobs and the economy.

If dictionaries quoted organizations, Merriam-Webster could just use this simple Green For All definition:

A green-collar job is a blue-collar job, upgraded to improve the environment and fight climate change.”

In the greenforall.org article “Green-collar” defined… incorrectly.” ‘green collar’ is further defined in relation to the phrase “blue collar”.

Among the new words is also the word vlog which I can define for you right now as a video blog. Check out my favorite vlogger Jay Smooth at illdoctrine.com

Merriam-Webster has also seen fit to “redefine” marriage by adding a second definition. True story. All jokes about Adam and Steve, no Bruno and no homo aside, this has some conservatives pretty cranky. To read more check out “Gay marriage gets recognition – in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary” at nydailynews.com.

Here’s the complete list of new words for 2009 merriam-webster.com

GREEN FACT: Green For All founder, The Great Van Jones, now works for President Obama and you as Special Advisor, White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ).