DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/T742-1312
Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7006-5801
Defense Date
2021
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Social Work
First Advisor
Dr. Sarah Kye Price
Second Advisor
Dr. Karen Chartier
Third Advisor
Dr. Nicole Corley
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Jody Davis
Abstract
Environmentalist narratives have left out the labor of Black environmentalists, mischaracterizing Black communities as disinterested in environmental problems or solutions. The purpose of this critical transformative exploratory qualitative study, guided by critical race theory, was to explore the meaning of pro-environmental behaviors among Black environmental advocates. Ten adult Black environmental advocates and organizers were interviewed using semi-structured interviews which were transcribed and analyzed using directed content analysis and thematic analysis. The findings demonstrated divergences between definitions of the environment and how that impacts what is considered pro-environmental behavior; the breadth of the pro-environmental behaviors in which Black environmentalists are engaged; racism’s impact on Black visibility in environmental spaces in the past, present and future; and the need to address Black visibility in environmental spaces as a critical pro-environmental behavior going forward. Implications for those in environmental spaces, including funders, social workers, and researchers, are addressed as well as the methodological implications on reflexivity and emergence learned in the process of the study.
Rights
© Kimberly S. Compton
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
5-10-2021