It is important to be grounded when doing this work. For people like Rev Yearwood and Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, urban strategist and author, they ground themselves in their spiritual faith. They discuss extractivism vs regeneration, phases of the environmental movement, and the connections between Islam and the environment.
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On July 2nd, 2021, the Hip Hop Caucus held a press conference to rally around the Byhalia pipeline fight in Memphis, Tennessee. Later that day, Plains All American Pipeline announced the cancellation of the 49-mile proposed Byhalia pipeline that would have gone right through the predominantly Black Southwest Memphis to transport crude oil for export.
In this episode of The Coolest Show, you’ll hear part of our press conference to depict the tone and fight before the cancellation, as well as the aftermath through the voices of Justin J. Pearson, Co-Founder of the Memphis Community Against the Pipeline (MCAP), and Ms. Scottie Fitzgerald, a Southwest Memphis landowner and MCAP Supporter.
Listen as we discuss the battle against the Byhalia pipeline and the importance of spirit and human first over profit.
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While people are profiting off the planet and the most vulnerable, creatives are leading innovation in sustainability with a heart and people-centered approach. The artist’s eye is the bridge between the culture and movements. Rev Yearwood speaks with Maya Penn, environmental activist and CEO of the eco-fashion brand Maya’s Ideas. Maya and Rev discuss standing on the shoulders of giants, buying Black and ethical, and the rise of Black women entrepreneurship.
Support Maya’s Ideas: mayasideas.com
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Racism is a public health crisis that fuels the Black community’s lack of trust in the government. Incidents such as the Tuskegee experiment and the Flint water crisis are examples of environmental racism, also categorized as genocide. Rev Yearwood speaks with Elise Tolbert, Founder and Executive Director of Next Step Up and the Deputy Director of Partner Engagement at Climate Action Campaign. Elise and Rev Yearwood discuss the need for young leadership, Black mental health, and the challenge to thrive in a society built to destroy you.
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The producers of The Coolest Show (DeJuan Cross, Destiny Hodges, and Tamara Toles O’Laughlin) give listeners an inside look at the production of the show. Rev Yearwood guides them through a critical conversation on: why spaces like The Coolest Show are needed to speak truth to power; the importance of prioritizing a Black audience for a climate podcast; and “lifting up the struggle while it’s evolving.”
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Institutionalized groups want young, Black, and Indigenous organizers to be inspirational and play a superficial role. But oftentimes, they don’t want to fund their work to effectively dismantle systems of oppression. It is easier to do the work that coddles one’s privilege because they don’t have to confront their privilege or the realities that communities first and foremost affected are experiencing. Rev Yearwood speaks with Isha Clarke, Co-founder of Youth Vs Apocalypse, and Aniya Butler, Hip Hop & Climate Justice coordinator. They share with us the struggle to gain funding and support for young people-led organizations; the importance of doing radical (root-addressing) work; and taking power out of systems of oppression and putting them into community-led solutions that center liberation.
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The fight for fair equity and access to appropriate resources has been an uphill battle for many organizations started in black communities. Funders have historically not trusted black organizations, resulting in folks doing twice the work for a small percentage of any available support. Rev Yearwood Speaks with Natalie Mebane, Associate Director of U.S. Policy at 350.org. Natalie shares her origins in the movement, the culture in her home of Trinidad and Tobago, using privilege to help the environment, and how white led organizations should strive to become equitable and diverse workplaces.
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The Coalitions are necessary in working to solve the climate crisis. They are often composed of people with different experiences, perspectives, needs, and opinions. So how do we secure a win with such a coalition? Rev Yearwood speaks with Jane Fleming Kleeb, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party and President of Bold Alliance. She shared her experience as a former young activist, building the Cowboy Indian Alliance, and ongoing pipeline fights.
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The Black church has played a major role in many social justice movements. There is a history of politicians and the climate movement being transactional and extractive with Black churches. Rev Yearwood speaks with Rev. Michael Malcom, the Executive Director of Alabama Interfaith Power and Light. He shares insight on the performance of worship, the role of the Black church in the movement, and the intersections of church and climate.
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Many grassroots organizations have found themselves in a competition for support from donors. Unfortunately, organizations vying for attention have created a circumstance where groups step on each other for resources, leaving those who need help the most buried.
Rev Yearwood speaks with Actress, Activist, and Author Alyssa Milano about her work connecting organizations to people on the ground in the movement. Alyssa dives into the realities of being a celebrity activist, cancel culture, and the backlash for speaking up for justice.
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Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr. is the host of The Coolest Show. He is also the President & CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, a minister, community activist, U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the most influential people in hip hop political life. As a national leader and pacemaker within the climate movement, Rev Yearwood challenges the establishment, media, and policymakers to reimagine climate solutions as racial justice. He uplifts people of color who have dedicated their lives to climate and environmental justice. And, he stands up for communities who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis, having been arrested more times than he can count as an activist in the streets. He hosts The Coolest Show so the smartest, most dedicated, and passionate leaders, who he admires, can have a platform to share their stories and truths.
