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Environmentalism of African Americans

An Analysis of the Subculture and Barriers Theories

University of Arkansas at Monticello, School of Forest Resources

Maureen H. McDonough

Department of Forestry at Michigan State University, Department of Sociology

Although studies of environmentalism proliferate, questions still exist regarding the environmentalism of African Americans and other ethnic minorities. The objectives of this study included (a) assessing the differences between African Americans’ and Euro-Americans’ environmental attitudes, (b) determining preferences for, and frequency of participation in environmental behaviors of African Americans and Euro-Americans, and (c) testing the influence of feelings of powerlessness as barriers to environmental behavior. Both African Americans and Euro-Americans showed environmental concern in their attitudes and reported participating occasionally to frequently in environmentally responsible behaviors. The relationship of powerlessness to environmental behavior was stronger for African Americans than Euro-Americans. This study challenges earlier works that suggest African Americans show little concern about the environment and gives limited support to the theory that feelings of powerlessness create a barrier to positive environmental behavior or participation.

Environment and Behavior, Vol. 31, No. 2, 155-177 (1999)
DOI: 10.1177/00139169921972047


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