by Thomas Lopez Jr.

“The biggest threat to humanity is humanity itself; we are in our own way. Instead of listening to Indigenous people who have been here for thousands of years we take the word of an infant western society. Every strong relationship is built on communication, respect and reciprocity. We’ve stopped communicating with the earth and the natural world around us, we’ve stopped respecting our sacred ecosystems and we are taking from the earth faster than she can replenish. We’ve created a toxic relationship with the earth and as a result, toxic relationships with ourselves the people around us. It’s all relative, what we’re doing to the earth we are doing to ourselves.”

Writing this has been difficult for me. Identifying problems without offering solutions seems counter productive to say the least. Ultimately, I want to expose something that is well intentioned but harmful to our movement and frontline communities everywhere. This exposure has led me to examine and question aspects of my own life while keeping it in context of the world around me and the communities I serve. My hope is that these reflections will help do the same for my readers and community organizers everywhere. 

Activism has become, of sorts, a trend that has swept America by storm.

With the emergence of youth advocates such as David Hogg, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez and Greta Thunberg issues like the climate crisis and gun violence have become pop culture in the eyes of the young Americans. In a world with limited space we are making room for those we deem worthy at the expense of frontline voices.

I’ll start by identifying my privilege. I was born and raised in Denver, CO, biologically male, in a middle-class home by two public school teachers. It’s important (in my life’s journey) that I’m honest about who I am and where I come from. I cannot and will not speak on behalf of struggles I have not experienced as it’s no one’s place to tell someone else’s story. I grew up fairly comfortable and went from high school directly to college where I received a bachelor’s degree in Technical Communications and Indigenous Studies. All of these western societal privileges have given me access to resources and opportunities that are not equally distributed. 

Several years I ago, I was asked to step into a leadership position and as a result a platform was created, which allows me to have the perspective that I do. I attend community meetings and show face at as many local actions and events as possible. Whilst traveling to other communities is important; the most meaningful organizing you can do is in your backyard. Making space for those who need it is how we equally distribute resources and opportunity. 

Everyone deserves a voice and space to be heard. When space is intentionally and authentically made for those without, we uplift and unify our movement. So where do we go wrong? Somewhere between community organizing and pop culture we’ve lost ourselves.

Have you ever experienced your message being drowned out by crowds cheering for someone else? These are the stories you hear from frontline youth returning from mass strikes and marches. Frontline, Indigenous and POC youth are being used for their struggles and charged with holding their own space. Space is being taken from frontline youth to meet the needs of what I call, “climate celebrities.”

Yes, I said it, climate celebrities: one of the results of the recent trend that it’s “cool” to care about the earth. We should acknowledge these young people and the work they’ve done at such young ages. We must also acknowledge that we are cherry-picking spokespeople to be the face of frontline youth everywhere.

For many of us it boils down to this: the youth being chosen to represent us continue to be white (or white-passing), cis-gendered youth that come from privileged communities who, more often than not, are dealing with the effects of climate change and other societal issues on a surface level. They are the palpable versions of frontline youth put forward to meet the needs of white pop culture.

Meanwhile, the youth whose water is being poisoned, the youth dropping out of high school to live in resistance camps and the youth being attacked for fighting oil companies in their backyards are being ignored. We’ve been tokenized; expected to hold frontlines, bring spiritual knowledge and acknowledge the people who’s land they’re standing on. It’s not fair, and it doesn’t feel good; we’re expected to hold these burdens without so much as a seat at the table. The consistency of this behavior has had an affect on Indigenous and POC youth to the point where many have given up on showing up.

Indigenous peoples are and will always be the foundation of what is now called the Climate Justice Movement.

Indigenous and POC youth have been fighting for the lives of our people since the birth of this nation. No hashtag or campaign will ever match the power and need for us to be seen by the western culture that put us in these cages. It’s important that authentic, intentional space is made for us. Without our voices at the table the Climate Justice Movement will continue to perpetuate the same violence against Indigenous people and POC that has been inflicted on us for over 500 years.

We have to start by acknowledging our privilege.

Whether it be our white, male, cis-gendered or American privilege, we have to be honest with ourselves. It’s just like the road to sobriety; the first step is admitting you have a problem. If you find yourself standing in the way of someone less visible than you, kindly and silently step to the side. You will not receive a pat on the back and you may not get acknowledged for your actions. You will continue living your life knowing that space was not meant for you and while you wanted that space, you chose to consensually give it to someone that needs it. 

Creating boundaries in our organizing is also key.

What is pop culture? What is community organizing and when do they come together? We have to know when we’re simply celebrating as opposed to truly uniting for a greater purpose. Strategically using our community members with celebrity status is a tactic that has proven very effective. Using their ability to draw crowds and media attention can be leveraged to elevate our message and movement. We’ve seen celebrities such as Mark Ruffaloe and Jane Fonda actively using their privilege, status and platform to uplift the movement and the people who are most directly affected. 

Space intended for our communities should never be jeopardized by the presence of a celebrity. Our elders and frontline youth are the true celebrities. Never hold someone’s social status above the needs of the people and remember when we step into these spaces we are all the same. We all need the fire, water, four winds and earth to exist, and for that purpose we have united.

Ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?”

I’m not sure people understand the reality of being a community organizer or frontline activist and the amount of work that goes unseen. You’d be shocked to know how much blood, sweat and tears goes into making these movements move. We go sleepless nights fighting for the communities we love.

There seems to be a misconception that doing this work leads to stardom and success. That you can live a life of paid travel, tours and speeches. However right now this movement doesn’t need more celebrities, we need more leaders. We need young people willing to actively listen, follow direction, offer ideas and ultimately work together in saving humanity.

To my frontline, Indigenous, POC and queer warriors I leave you with this…

Stop expecting mainstream culture to make a seat for you. Stop expecting to be invited in the manner we know we deserve. White culture has proven they are incapable of doing this, but we can’t walk away now. Our ancestors fought too hard for us to give up because they didn’t include us. Break down those walls and barriers preventing you from being seen. Make yourself a seat at the table and never apologize for being “too much” or “too extra.” Those comments never stopped me and they never will. Continue to show up, continue to shout, continue to fight. Continue to be the warriors your ancestors know you are. If we want to be seen we must make our presence known. Reach for the stars because you’re worth it and our people need it. Work hard and prove to the world why we deserve to be seen, heard and known. Be the voice of the future and speak for the voices of the past.

I don’t see what we’re doing as unique or special. Our people have been doing this for thousands of years.

Fighting for our lives and way of life is not a trend, it’s not a hot topic or an angsty time of our lives. This is a way of life, this is how we must live and die to ensure a livable future for the next seven generations, as was done for us seven generations ago. We are not climate celebrities! We are warriors. We are water protectors. We are land defenders. I do not stand in front of but next to my siblings in demanding justice for our earth. There is a place for everyone in this movement and everyone’s role is important.