Earth Day and Carl Anthony’s Legacy

Carl Anthony has had a profound and lasting impact on so many of us, and on our region as a whole. On this Earth Day, I reflect on what I’ve learned from him:

First, Carl understood how environmental sustainability cannot be separated from racial justice and the health of Black, Indigenous, and immigrant communities of color in urban areas. Growing up in the “Black Bottom” neighborhood in Philadelphia shaped his understanding of how racial inequities in cities are not by accident: Cities are designed by wealthy corporate interests to extract value, using the tools of segregation to dispossess low-income communities of color of money and power, while concentrating environmental risk and hazards. While these impacts are felt most strongly at the neighborhood level, Carl emphasized that they are fundamentally regional in nature, and require regional solutions.

Second, Carl believed in the importance of developing multiracial leadership. He recognized how African Americans – and communities of color more broadly – bring essential knowledge, lived experience, and leadership needed to shape a just and sustainable future. Yet institutions rooted in white supremacy, racism, and colonialism have long excluded these communities from decision-making and devalued their contributions. He founded Urban Habitat to develop Black and multiracial leadership in the Bay Area – a mission that remains at the core of our work today. 

Finally, Carl recognized how gentrification and displacement are powerful regional forces driving resegregation. As low-income communities of color are moving to the outer parts of the region in search of affordable housing, they face longer commutes and heightened exposure to climate risks including extreme heat, poor air quality, flooding, and wildfires. As the geography of race, class, and power continues to shift, we have recommitted to building the power and capacity of renters and low-income communities of color in these outer areas. 

On this Earth Day, I invite you to reflect on how Carl Anthony has influenced you or shaped your work. You can start by listening to this interview with Carl reflecting on the history of Earth Day and the enduring legacy of the environmental justice movement.