Women of color have been the backbone of the national Environmental Justice Movement in the United States. More than two-thirds of the grassroots environmental justice groups in the country are led by women. There are many courageous sheroes who gave their lives in the pursuit of environmental and economic justice over the past three decades. These are my sheroes (in alphabetical order): Dana Alston (Washington, DC), Jeanne Guana (Albuquerque, NM), Hazel Johnson (Chicago, IL), Patsy Ruth Oliver (Texarkana, TX), Juanita Tate (Los Angeles, CA), Emelda West (Convent, LA), and Margaret Louise Williams (Pensacola, FL). We miss them. Their legacy remains alive and well in those who follow in their footsteps. Let’s honor them by continuing their work.
