TED2006
Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto
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In an emotionally charged talk, MacArthur-winning activist Majora Carter details her fight for environmental justice in the South Bronx -- and shows how minority neighborhoods suffer most from flawed urban policy.
Majora Carter - Activist for environmental justice
Majora Carter redefined the field of environmental equality, starting in the South Bronx at the turn of the century. Now she is leading the local economic development movement across the USA. Full bio
Majora Carter redefined the field of environmental equality, starting in the South Bronx at the turn of the century. Now she is leading the local economic development movement across the USA. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:25
If you're here today --
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and I'm very happy that you are --
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you've all heard about
how sustainable development
how sustainable development
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will save us from ourselves.
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However, when we're not at TED,
we are often told
we are often told
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that a real sustainability policy agenda
is just not feasible,
is just not feasible,
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especially in large urban areas
like New York City.
like New York City.
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And that's because most people
with decision-making powers,
with decision-making powers,
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in both the public and the private sector,
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really don't feel
as though they're in danger.
as though they're in danger.
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The reason why I'm here today,
in part, is because of a dog --
in part, is because of a dog --
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an abandoned puppy I found
back in the rain, back in 1998.
back in the rain, back in 1998.
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She turned out to be
a much bigger dog than I'd anticipated.
a much bigger dog than I'd anticipated.
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When she came into my life, we were
fighting against a huge waste facility
fighting against a huge waste facility
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planned for the East River waterfront
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despite the fact that
our small part of New York City
our small part of New York City
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already handled more than 40 percent
of the entire city's commercial waste:
of the entire city's commercial waste:
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a sewage treatment pelletizing plant,
a sewage sludge plant, four power plants,
a sewage sludge plant, four power plants,
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the world's largest
food-distribution center,
food-distribution center,
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as well as other industries that bring
more than 60,000 diesel truck trips
more than 60,000 diesel truck trips
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to the area each week.
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The area also has one of the lowest ratios
of parks to people in the city.
of parks to people in the city.
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So when I was contacted
by the Parks Department
by the Parks Department
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about a $10,000 seed-grant initiative
to help develop waterfront projects,
to help develop waterfront projects,
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I thought they were really
well-meaning, but a bit naive.
well-meaning, but a bit naive.
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I'd lived in this area all my life,
and you could not get to the river,
and you could not get to the river,
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because of all the lovely facilities
that I mentioned earlier.
that I mentioned earlier.
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Then, while jogging
with my dog one morning,
with my dog one morning,
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she pulled me into what I thought
was just another illegal dump.
was just another illegal dump.
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There were weeds and piles of garbage
and other stuff that I won't mention here,
and other stuff that I won't mention here,
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but she kept dragging me,
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and lo and behold, at the end
of that lot was the river.
of that lot was the river.
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I knew that this forgotten
little street-end,
little street-end,
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abandoned like the dog that brought
me there, was worth saving.
me there, was worth saving.
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And I knew it would grow
to become the proud beginnings
to become the proud beginnings
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of the community-led revitalization
of the new South Bronx.
of the new South Bronx.
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And just like my new dog, it was an idea
that got bigger than I'd imagined.
that got bigger than I'd imagined.
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We garnered much support along the way,
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and the Hunts Point Riverside Park
became the first waterfront park
became the first waterfront park
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that the South Bronx had had
in more than 60 years.
in more than 60 years.
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We leveraged that $10,000 seed grant
more than 300 times,
more than 300 times,
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into a $3 million park.
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And in the fall, I'm going to exchange
marriage vows with my beloved.
marriage vows with my beloved.
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(Audience whistles)
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Thank you very much.
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(Applause)
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That's him pressing my buttons
back there, which he does all the time.
back there, which he does all the time.
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(Laughter)
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(Applause)
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But those of us living
in environmental justice communities
in environmental justice communities
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are the canary in the coal mine.
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We feel the problems right now,
and have for some time.
and have for some time.
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Environmental justice, for those of you
who may not be familiar with the term,
who may not be familiar with the term,
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goes something like this:
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no community should be saddled
with more environmental burdens
with more environmental burdens
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and less environmental benefits
than any other.
than any other.
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Unfortunately, race and class
are extremely reliable indicators
are extremely reliable indicators
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as to where one might find the good stuff,
like parks and trees,
like parks and trees,
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and where one might find the bad stuff,
like power plants and waste facilities.
like power plants and waste facilities.
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As a black person in America,
I am twice as likely as a white person
I am twice as likely as a white person
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to live in an area where air pollution
poses the greatest risk to my health.
poses the greatest risk to my health.
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I am five times more likely
to live within walking distance
to live within walking distance
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of a power plant or chemical facility,
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which I do.
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These land-use decisions
created the hostile conditions
created the hostile conditions
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that lead to problems like obesity,
diabetes and asthma.
diabetes and asthma.
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Why would someone leave their home to go
for a brisk walk in a toxic neighborhood?
for a brisk walk in a toxic neighborhood?
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Our 27 percent obesity rate
is high even for this country,
is high even for this country,
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and diabetes comes with it.
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One out of four South Bronx
children has asthma.
children has asthma.
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Our asthma hospitalization rate
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is seven times higher
than the national average.
than the national average.
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These impacts are coming everyone's way.
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And we all pay dearly
for solid waste costs,
for solid waste costs,
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health problems associated
with pollution and more odiously,
with pollution and more odiously,
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the cost of imprisoning
our young black and Latino men,
our young black and Latino men,
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who possess untold amounts
of untapped potential.
of untapped potential.
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Fifty percent of our residents
live at or below the poverty line;
live at or below the poverty line;
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25 percent of us are unemployed.
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Low-income citizens often use
emergency-room visits as primary care.
emergency-room visits as primary care.
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This comes at a high cost to taxpayers
and produces no proportional benefits.
and produces no proportional benefits.
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Poor people are not only still poor,
they are still unhealthy.
they are still unhealthy.
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Fortunately, there are many people
like me who are striving for solutions
like me who are striving for solutions
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that won't compromise the lives
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of low-income communities of color
in the short term,
in the short term,
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and won't destroy us all in the long term.
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None of us want that,
and we all have that in common.
and we all have that in common.
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So what else do we have in common?
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Well, first of all,
we're all incredibly good-looking.
we're all incredibly good-looking.
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(Laughter)
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Graduated high school, college,
post-graduate degrees,
post-graduate degrees,
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traveled to interesting places,
didn't have kids in your early teens,
didn't have kids in your early teens,
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financially stable, never been imprisoned.
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OK. Good.
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(Laughter)
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But, besides being a black woman,
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I am different from most of you
in some other ways.
in some other ways.
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I watched nearly half of the buildings
in my neighborhood burn down.
in my neighborhood burn down.
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My big brother Lenny fought in Vietnam,
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only to be gunned down
a few blocks from our home.
a few blocks from our home.
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Jesus.
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I grew up with a crack house
across the street.
across the street.
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Yeah, I'm a poor black child
from the ghetto.
from the ghetto.
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These things make me different from you.
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But the things we have in common
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set me apart from most
of the people in my community,
of the people in my community,
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and I am in between these two worlds
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with enough of my heart
to fight for justice in the other.
to fight for justice in the other.
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So how did things get so different for us?
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In the late '40s, my dad --
a Pullman porter, son of a slave --
a Pullman porter, son of a slave --
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bought a house in the Hunts Point
section of the South Bronx,
section of the South Bronx,
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and a few years later, he married my mom.
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At the time, the community was a mostly
white, working-class neighborhood.
white, working-class neighborhood.
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My dad was not alone.
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And as others like him pursued
their own version of the American dream,
their own version of the American dream,
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white flight became common
in the South Bronx
in the South Bronx
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and in many cities around the country.
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Red-lining was used by banks,
wherein certain sections of the city,
wherein certain sections of the city,
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including ours, were deemed
off-limits to any sort of investment.
off-limits to any sort of investment.
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Many landlords believed it was more
profitable to torch their buildings
profitable to torch their buildings
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and collect insurance money rather
than to sell under those conditions --
than to sell under those conditions --
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dead or injured former tenants
notwithstanding.
notwithstanding.
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Hunts Point was formerly
a walk-to-work community,
a walk-to-work community,
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but now residents had neither
work nor home to walk to.
work nor home to walk to.
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A national highway construction boom
was added to our problems.
was added to our problems.
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In New York State,
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Robert Moses spearheaded
an aggressive highway-expansion campaign.
an aggressive highway-expansion campaign.
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One of its primary goals was
to make it easier
to make it easier
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for residents of wealthy communities
in Westchester County to go to Manhattan.
in Westchester County to go to Manhattan.
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The South Bronx, which lies in between,
did not stand a chance.
did not stand a chance.
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Residents were often given
less than a month's notice
less than a month's notice
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before their buildings were razed.
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600,000 people were displaced.
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The common perception was
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that only pimps and pushers
and prostitutes were from the South Bronx.
and prostitutes were from the South Bronx.
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And if you are told
from your earliest days
from your earliest days
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that nothing good is going to come
from your community,
from your community,
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that it's bad and ugly,
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how could it not reflect on you?
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So now, my family's property
was worthless,
was worthless,
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save for that it was our home,
and all we had.
and all we had.
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And luckily for me, that home
and the love inside of it,
and the love inside of it,
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along with help from teachers, mentors
and friends along the way, was enough.
and friends along the way, was enough.
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Now, why is this story important?
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Because from a planning perspective,
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economic degradation
begets environmental degradation,
begets environmental degradation,
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which begets social degradation.
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The disinvestment that began
in the 1960s set the stage
in the 1960s set the stage
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for all the environmental
injustices that were to come.
injustices that were to come.
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Antiquated zoning and land-use
regulations are still used to this day
regulations are still used to this day
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to continue putting polluting
facilities in my neighborhood.
facilities in my neighborhood.
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Are these factors taken into consideration
when land-use policy is decided?
when land-use policy is decided?
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What costs are associated
with these decisions?
with these decisions?
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And who pays? Who profits?
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Does anything justify
what the local community goes through?
what the local community goes through?
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This was "planning" -- in quotes --
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that did not have
our best interests in mind.
our best interests in mind.
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Once we realized that, we decided
it was time to do our own planning.
it was time to do our own planning.
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That small park I told you about earlier
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was the first stage of building
a Greenway movement in the South Bronx.
a Greenway movement in the South Bronx.
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I wrote a one-and-a-quarter-million
dollar federal transportation grant
dollar federal transportation grant
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to design the plan
for a waterfront esplanade
for a waterfront esplanade
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with dedicated on-street bike paths.
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Physical improvements help inform
public policy regarding traffic safety,
public policy regarding traffic safety,
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the placement of the waste
and other facilities,
and other facilities,
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which, if done properly, don't compromise
a community's quality of life.
a community's quality of life.
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They provide opportunities
to be more physically active,
to be more physically active,
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as well as local economic development.
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Think bike shops, juice stands.
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We secured 20 million dollars
to build first-phase projects.
to build first-phase projects.
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This is Lafayette Avenue --
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and that's redesigned
by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects.
by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects.
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And once this path is constructed,
it'll connect the South Bronx
it'll connect the South Bronx
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with more than 400 acres
of Randall's Island Park.
of Randall's Island Park.
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Right now we're separated by about 25 feet
of water, but this link will change that.
of water, but this link will change that.
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As we nurture the natural environment,
its abundance will give us back even more.
its abundance will give us back even more.
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We run a project called the Bronx
[Environmental] Stewardship Training,
[Environmental] Stewardship Training,
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which provides job training in the fields
of ecological restoration,
of ecological restoration,
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so that folks from our community
have the skills to compete
have the skills to compete
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for these well-paying jobs.
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Little by little, we're seeding
the area with green-collar jobs --
the area with green-collar jobs --
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and with people that have both
a financial and personal stake
a financial and personal stake
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in their environment.
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The Sheridan Expressway
is an underutilized relic
is an underutilized relic
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of the Robert Moses era,
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built with no regard for the neighborhoods
that were divided by it.
that were divided by it.
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Even during rush hour,
it goes virtually unused.
it goes virtually unused.
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The community created
an alternative transportation plan
an alternative transportation plan
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that allows for the removal
of the highway.
of the highway.
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We have the opportunity now to bring
together all the stakeholders
together all the stakeholders
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to re-envision how this 28 acres
can be better utilized
can be better utilized
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for parkland, affordable housing
and local economic development.
and local economic development.
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We also built New York City's first green
and cool roof demonstration project
and cool roof demonstration project
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on top of our offices.
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Cool roofs are highly-reflective
surfaces that don't absorb solar heat,
surfaces that don't absorb solar heat,
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and pass it on to
the building or atmosphere.
the building or atmosphere.
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Green roofs are soil and living plants.
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Both can be used instead
of petroleum-based roofing materials
of petroleum-based roofing materials
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that absorb heat, contribute
to urban "heat island" effect
to urban "heat island" effect
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and degrade under the sun,
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which we in turn breathe.
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Green roofs also retain
up to 75 percent of rainfall,
up to 75 percent of rainfall,
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so they reduce a city's need to fund
costly end-of-pipe solutions --
costly end-of-pipe solutions --
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which, incidentally, are often located
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in environmental justice
communities like mine.
communities like mine.
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And they provide habitats
for our little friends!
for our little friends!
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[Butterfly]
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(Laughter)
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So cool!
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Anyway, the demonstration
project is a springboard
project is a springboard
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for our own green roof
installation business,
installation business,
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bringing jobs and sustainable
economic activity to the South Bronx.
economic activity to the South Bronx.
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[Green is the new black ...]
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(Laughter) (Applause)
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I like that, too.
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Anyway, I know Chris told us
not to do pitches up here,
not to do pitches up here,
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but since I have all of your attention:
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We need investors. End of pitch.
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It's better to ask
for forgiveness than permission.
for forgiveness than permission.
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Anyway --
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(Laughter)
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(Applause)
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OK. Katrina.
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Prior to Katrina, the South Bronx
and New Orleans' Ninth Ward
and New Orleans' Ninth Ward
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had a lot in common.
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Both were largely populated
by poor people of color,
by poor people of color,
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both hotbeds of cultural innovation:
think hip-hop and jazz.
think hip-hop and jazz.
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Both are waterfront communities
that host both industries and residents
that host both industries and residents
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in close proximity of one another.
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In the post-Katrina era,
we have still more in common.
we have still more in common.
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We're at best ignored,
and maligned and abused, at worst,
and maligned and abused, at worst,
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by negligent regulatory agencies,
pernicious zoning
pernicious zoning
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and lax governmental accountability.
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Neither the destruction of the Ninth Ward
nor the South Bronx was inevitable.
nor the South Bronx was inevitable.
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But we have emerged with valuable lessons
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about how to dig ourselves out.
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We are more than simply
national symbols of urban blight
national symbols of urban blight
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or problems to be solved
by empty campaign promises
by empty campaign promises
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of presidents come and gone.
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Now will we let the Gulf Coast
languish for a decade or two,
languish for a decade or two,
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like the South Bronx did?
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Or will we take proactive steps
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and learn from the homegrown resource
of grassroots activists
of grassroots activists
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that have been born of desperation
in communities like mine?
in communities like mine?
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Now listen, I do not expect individuals,
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corporations or government
to make the world a better place
to make the world a better place
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because it is right or moral.
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This presentation today only represents
some of what I've been through.
some of what I've been through.
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Like a tiny little bit. You've no clue.
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But I'll tell you later,
if you want to know.
if you want to know.
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(Laughter)
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But -- I know it's the bottom line,
or one's perception of it,
or one's perception of it,
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that motivates people in the end.
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I'm interested in what I like to call
the "triple bottom line"
the "triple bottom line"
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that sustainable development can produce.
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Developments that have the potential
to create positive returns
to create positive returns
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for all concerned:
the developers, government
the developers, government
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and the community
where these projects go up.
where these projects go up.
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At present, that's not happening
in New York City.
in New York City.
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And we are operating with a comprehensive
urban-planning deficit.
urban-planning deficit.
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A parade of government subsidies
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is going to propose big-box and stadium
developments in the South Bronx,
developments in the South Bronx,
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but there is scant coordination
between city agencies
between city agencies
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on how to deal with the cumulative effects
of increased traffic, pollution,
of increased traffic, pollution,
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solid waste and the impacts on open space.
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And their approaches to local economic
and job development are so lame
and job development are so lame
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it's not even funny.
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Because on top of that,
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the world's richest sports team
is replacing the House That Ruth Built
is replacing the House That Ruth Built
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by destroying two
well-loved community parks.
well-loved community parks.
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Now, we'll have even less
than that stat I told you about earlier.
than that stat I told you about earlier.
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And although less than 25 percent
of South Bronx residents own cars,
of South Bronx residents own cars,
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these projects include
thousands of new parking spaces,
thousands of new parking spaces,
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yet zip in terms of mass public transit.
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Now, what's missing from the larger debate
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is a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis
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between not fixing an unhealthy,
environmentally-challenged community,
environmentally-challenged community,
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versus incorporating structural,
sustainable changes.
sustainable changes.
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My agency is working closely
with Columbia University and others
with Columbia University and others
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to shine a light on these issues.
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Now let's get this straight:
I am not anti-development.
I am not anti-development.
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Ours is a city, not a wilderness preserve.
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And I've embraced my inner capitalist.
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And, but I don't have --
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(Laughter)
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You probably all have,
and if you haven't, you need to.
and if you haven't, you need to.
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(Laughter)
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So I don't have a problem
with developers making money.
with developers making money.
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There's enough precedent out there
to show that a sustainable,
to show that a sustainable,
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community-friendly development
can still make a fortune.
can still make a fortune.
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Fellow TEDsters Bill McDonough
and Amory Lovins --
and Amory Lovins --
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both heroes of mine by the way --
have shown that you can actually do that.
have shown that you can actually do that.
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14:08
I do have a problem
with developments that hyper-exploit
with developments that hyper-exploit
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politically vulnerable
communities for profit.
communities for profit.
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That it continues is a shame upon us all,
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because we are all responsible
for the future that we create.
for the future that we create.
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But one of the things I do
to remind myself of greater possibilities,
to remind myself of greater possibilities,
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is to learn from visionaries
in other cities.
in other cities.
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This is my version of globalization.
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Let's take Bogota.
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Poor, Latino, surrounded by
runaway gun violence and drug trafficking;
runaway gun violence and drug trafficking;
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a reputation not unlike
that of the South Bronx.
that of the South Bronx.
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However, this city was blessed
in the late 1990s
in the late 1990s
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with a highly-influential
mayor named Enrique Peñalosa.
mayor named Enrique Peñalosa.
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He looked at the demographics.
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Few Bogotanos own cars,
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yet a huge portion of the city's resources
was dedicated to serving them.
was dedicated to serving them.
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If you're a mayor, you can
do something about that.
do something about that.
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His administration narrowed key municipal
thoroughfares from five lanes to three,
thoroughfares from five lanes to three,
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outlawed parking on those streets,
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expanded pedestrian walkways
and bike lanes,
and bike lanes,
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created public plazas,
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created one of the most efficient
bus mass-transit systems
bus mass-transit systems
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in the entire world.
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For his brilliant efforts,
he was nearly impeached.
he was nearly impeached.
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But as people began to see
that they were being put first
that they were being put first
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on issues reflecting
their day-to-day lives,
their day-to-day lives,
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incredible things happened.
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15:20
People stopped littering.
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Crime rates dropped, because the streets
were alive with people.
were alive with people.
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His administration attacked several
typical urban problems at one time,
typical urban problems at one time,
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and on a third-world budget, at that.
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We have no excuse
in this country, I'm sorry.
in this country, I'm sorry.
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But the bottom line is:
their people-first agenda
their people-first agenda
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was not meant to penalize
those who could actually afford cars,
those who could actually afford cars,
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but rather, to provide opportunities
for all Bogotanos to participate
for all Bogotanos to participate
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in the city's resurgence.
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15:46
That development should not come
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at the expense of the majority
of the population
of the population
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15:51
is still considered
a radical idea here in the U.S.
a radical idea here in the U.S.
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15:54
But Bogota's example
has the power to change that.
has the power to change that.
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You, however, are blessed
with the gift of influence.
with the gift of influence.
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That's why you're here and why you
value the information we exchange.
value the information we exchange.
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Use your influence
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1350
16:05
in support of comprehensive,
sustainable change everywhere.
sustainable change everywhere.
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16:09
Don't just talk about it at TED.
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16:11
This is a nationwide policy agenda
I'm trying to build,
I'm trying to build,
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16:15
and as you all know,
politics are personal.
politics are personal.
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Help me make green the new black.
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16:21
Help me make sustainability sexy.
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Make it a part of your dinner
and cocktail conversations.
and cocktail conversations.
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16:26
Help me fight for environmental
and economic justice.
and economic justice.
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Support investments
with a triple-bottom-line return.
with a triple-bottom-line return.
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Help me democratize sustainability
by bringing everyone to the table,
by bringing everyone to the table,
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and insisting that comprehensive
planning can be addressed everywhere.
planning can be addressed everywhere.
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Oh good, glad I have a little more time!
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Listen -- when I spoke to Mr. Gore
the other day after breakfast,
the other day after breakfast,
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I asked him how environmental justice
activists were going to be included
activists were going to be included
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16:51
in his new marketing strategy.
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16:53
His response was a grant program.
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I don't think he understood
that I wasn't asking for funding.
that I wasn't asking for funding.
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I was making him an offer.
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17:07
(Applause)
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What troubled me was that this
top-down approach is still around.
top-down approach is still around.
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17:20
Now, don't get me wrong, we need money.
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17:21
(Laughter)
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But grassroots groups
are needed at the table
are needed at the table
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during the decision-making process.
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17:30
Of the 90 percent of the energy
that Mr. Gore reminded us
that Mr. Gore reminded us
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17:34
that we waste every day,
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17:35
don't add wasting our energy, intelligence
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17:39
and hard-earned experience to that count.
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17:42
(Applause)
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I have come from so far
to meet you like this.
to meet you like this.
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Please don't waste me.
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By working together,
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we can become one of those small,
rapidly-growing groups of individuals
rapidly-growing groups of individuals
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who actually have the audacity and courage
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18:08
to believe that we actually
can change the world.
can change the world.
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18:12
We might have come to this conference
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18:13
from very, very different
stations in life,
stations in life,
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18:16
but believe me, we all share
one incredibly powerful thing.
one incredibly powerful thing.
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We have nothing to lose
and everything to gain.
and everything to gain.
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Ciao, bellos!
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18:29
(Applause)
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6468
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Majora Carter - Activist for environmental justiceMajora Carter redefined the field of environmental equality, starting in the South Bronx at the turn of the century. Now she is leading the local economic development movement across the USA.
Why you should listen
Majora Carter is a visionary voice in city planning who views urban renewal through an environmental lens. The South Bronx native draws a direct connection between ecological, economic and social degradation. Hence her motto: "Green the ghetto!"
With her inspired ideas and fierce persistence, Carter managed to bring the South Bronx its first open-waterfront park in 60 years, Hunts Point Riverside Park. Then she scored $1.25 million in federal funds for a greenway along the South Bronx waterfront, bringing the neighborhood open space, pedestrian and bike paths, and space for mixed-use economic development.
Her success is no surprise to anyone who's seen her speak; Carter's confidence, energy and intensely emotional delivery make her talks themselves a force of nature. (The release of her TEDTalk in 2006 prompted Guy Kawasaki to wonder on his blog whether she wasn't "every bit as good as [Apple CEO] Steve Jobs," a legendary presenter.)
Carter, who was awarded a 2005 MacArthur "genius" grant, served as executive director of Sustainable South Bronx for 7 years, where she pushed both for eco-friendly practices (such as green and cool roofs) and, equally important, job training and green-related economic development for her vibrant neighborhood on the rise. Since leaving SSBx in 2008, Carter has formed the economic consulting and planning firm the Majora Carter Group, to bring her pioneering approach to communities far outside the South Bronx. Carter is working within the cities of New Orleans, Detroit and the small coastal towns of Northeastern North Carolina. The Majora Carter Group is putting the green economy and green economic tools to use, unlocking the potential of every place -- from urban cities and rural communities, to universities, government projects, businesses and corporations -- and everywhere else in between.
Majora Carter | Speaker | TED.com