Black Oaks Center: sustainability in the African-American community

Taking it Back!

Wondered about living a life without dependency on fossil fuels like gasoline?  Ever thought you could build a home, or a school out of materials from the earth?  Have you been trying to find a way to re-connect yourself with your surroundings?

The Black Oaks Center for Sustainable Reneweable Living was founded by Fred Carter and Dr. Jifunza Wright Carter.  Together, their vision is to 'create safe, healing spaces that are founded on the principles of environmental stewardship and social equality.'  

1. Why did you start the Black Oaks Center?

American life far from energy efficient.  Consumption, not conservation has been tightly woven into our lifestyles.  Our current culture and values have been driven by parts, not the whole.  The challenge is not in going out and chasing our piece of the pie in the new green economy.  We must weave a new way of life that is collective, cooperatively sharing and efficiently utilizing the resources we do have.

2. People talk about the term 'sustainability' a lot these days.  What does that mean to you?

'Sustainability' is the new buzz word.  It is tied to the growing 'green economy.'  It borders on being as abused as the word 'love.'  Major corporations see sustainability as a means to prolong their power, domination and wealth.  Sustainability in an ecological context means:

• The equitable distribution of resources and opportunities
• Living in balance environmentally, socially, and economically
• Acknowledging our connectedness with everything and everyone

Surely as we have survived every turn and bend: slavery, Reconstruction, the Nadir and the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Era, and now, sustainability will have to be more and more a part of our daily lives.

3.  Why is it important for people from 'the hood' to know about this stuff?

While our plight and future looks bleak, we do have great strength.  Our strength is our heritage.  Our ancestors were masterful in sustainability.  They knew how to grow their own food and provide for their every need.  They had an Ancient Wisdom that allowed us to thrive in harmony with nature for thousands of years, long before our oppression.

Check out more information here.

info@blackoakscenter.org