The Soul of Earth Day

Welcome to a special edition of LTAR-  

We  address climate change and environmental issues that disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. 

Nia Gray, Professor Johnson, Althea Billings, and Cecil Prescod on The Soul of Earth Day  

“Environmental racism – A magnifying glass on America racism”  alleviate traffic downtown and allow white people living in suburbs the convenience of commuting to the city in cars. 

The highways displaced far more than houses. Clean air, for one, is long gone. In 2018, Boston Chinatown still had the highest level of vehicle emissions in Massachusetts. 

This incident is not an isolated event for communities of color, but one example of widespread environmental racism. It highlights the continued exposure of America's structural racism that places a disproportionate burden of environmental hazard on people of color, in the context of the warming planet and worsening environment. 

Professor Johnson and Althea Billings discuss the climate crisis and power outages in TX. 

Nia Gray and Althea Billings explain why younger people are interested in Climate Change

Professor Johnson provides statistical evidence that People of Color are disproportionately impacted by climate change  

Nia Gray discusses levels of radon, a colorless, odorless radioactive gas, that are two to three times the federal Environmental Protection Agency's "action level” inside Whitaker Middle School, which served a student of color population.  

Remembering Portland’s Heat Dome of 2021: Portland saw a record high temperature of 116 degrees, while cities including Salem, Hillsboro and the Columbia River Gorge also broke their all-time records. The heat wave, known as a “heat dome” trapped hot air over the region from June 24-29, 2021. 

Let's Talk About Race (LTAR), is a new intergenerational, roundtable discussion of independent national journalists featuring rigorous conversations and analysis of news coverage and the role race plays in politics, government, economy, education, and health. LTAR currently airs on KBOO Community Radio in Portland, OR, and on Pacifica Radio Network   

The roundtable line-up features: LaNita Duke, award-winning audio and video producer who has written, directed, and produced political news and commentary for Grassroots NW and KBOO Radio for more than 20 years years. Dianne Johnson, a journalist from Texas co-host/musicologist on From the Grassroots, a political news magazine. Althea Billings, current News Director at KBOO Community Radio. Cecil Prescod, a  talk-show host local, national, and international issues ranging from poverty in Portland to politics in Africa. Nia Gray, host, and blogger of The Faith Report Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And  Mary Li is the Director of the Multnomah Idea Lab (MIL) at the Multnomah County Department of County Human Services in Portland, Oregon.