Peace & Riot Picks
Book: How Beautiful We Were
Author: Imbolo Mbu
Picked by: Bakeyah Nelson, Founder, Community Health Collaborative Consulting, LLC and Advisor at Counterstream Media
“This book is a vivid illustration of the complexities in confronting the false promise and peril of big oil.”
Movie: Evil Does Not Exist
Directed by: Ryûsuke Hamaguchi
Picked by: Mindy Ramaker, Head of Creative at Counterstream Media
“‘Evil Does Not Exist’ is a moving and poetic environmental justice thriller. I love how this movie captures the serene beauty of rural life in a Japanese village and showcases community strength in the face of capitalist interests. Although fictional, it rings with truth.”
Book: Toxic Communities: Environmental Racism, Industrial Pollution, and Residential Mobility
Author: Dorceta E. Taylor
Picked by: Patrice Simms, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor at Counterstream
“This might be a pretty dense read, but Dr. Dorceta Taylor provides a guided tour of how racism, housing policy, greed, and industrial development have collided to create racialized sacrifice zones that poison entire communities and perpetuate injustice. This dynamic is at the heart of why I do what I do.”
Song: My People
Artist: Erykah Badu
Picked by: Abre’ Conner, Director Environmental and Climate Justice at NAACP and Advisor at Counterstream
“The song talks to the literal elements that frontline communities are experiencing in more frequent and severe ways. And it's a battle cry to tell the community to keep fighting and that love will bring us to a better place. It highlights that forward movement is the only way to see a better future. It captures the essence of what environmental justice means.”
Account: @queerbrownvegan
Picked by: Lance Blair, Sr. Benefits & Employee Engagement Manager at Liquid Death and Advisor at Counterstream Media
“Isaias Hernandez (@queerbrownvegan) is an environmentalist and creative entrepreneur who comes out with badass content aimed at informing and educating BIPOC & marginalized folks who may not see themselves as a target audience for environmental causes. From exploring sustainable jobs to diving into science and politics, Isaias breaks down challenging subjects in a way that everyone can understand so they also have a seat at the discussion table.”
Book: Revolutionary Hillbilly
Author: Hy Thurman
Picked by: Michael McKenzie, Executive Director at Counterstream Media
“‘Revolutionary Hillbilly’ is a multifaceted work by Hy Thurman that serves as a history book, an organizer’s notebook, and an autobiography. The narrative focuses on themes of unity against poverty and racism, highlighting the importance of coalition-building among marginalized communities. Thurman, a self-identified hillbilly and revolutionary organizer, co-founded the Young Patriots Organization in the 1960s. This organization aimed to unite poor white communities with marginalized groups, notably the Illinois Black Panther Party and the Young Lords Organization. Thurman’s educational journey began in Tennessee’s fields and continued on the streets of Chicago, where he developed a profound commitment to social justice.”
Podcast: Still Processing
Picked by: Shilpi Chhotray, Co-Founder and President of Counterstream Media
“Still Processing is my go-to podcast for thoughtful cultural reflection. Hosted by Wesley Morris and Jenna Wortham, their conversations strike the perfect balance between personal stories and deep analysis on pop culture, race, and politics. Their approach has been a huge inspiration for me in producing the People over Plastic podcast, encouraging our team to explore nuanced, challenging topics with the same depth and empathy.”
Documentary: To Calm the Pig Inside
Director: Joanna Vasquez Arong
Picked By: Christine Ahanotu, Senior Creative Producer at Warner Brothers Discover and Advisor at Counterstream Media
“A beautiful interweaving of memory, myth and reality, ‘To Calm The Pig Inside’ is a short film that highlights the destruction left by typhoons in the Philippines and how people there cope with the trauma.”