Black & green: the new eco-warriors

Ebony, July, 2008 by Shirley Henderson

"Congress is taking steps to make sure that Pookie gets that training," says Jones.

THE NATURAL WOMAN

KERRY WASHINGTON

AGE: 31

Actress, director and activist

HOW SHE SAVED HER WORLD: On the set in Hollywood, she pushes for biodegradable supplies and has drivers pick her up in a hybrid car instead of a town car. In Harlem, she developed a green apartment building, which is being used as residential rental property.

In Kerry Washington's movie roles and music videos, the actress has portrayed characters with issues. In real life, she has her own issue--spreading awareness about the environment.

"What is so sad to me," says Washington, "is if you ask the average person who Wangari Maathai [the Kenya-born environmentalist] is, most people don't know, even though she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004."

For years, Washington has been carving out a place for herself in the green movement. When she directed rapper Common's video / Want You, she demanded that only biodegrade-able eating utensils be used on the set. She is collaborating with Sustainable South Bronx founder Majora Carter (the two have become good friends) in directing a public service announcement that exposes the atrocities of environmental injustice, such as placing hazardous chemical plants and waste sites in neighborhoods where people of color live. And, in her spare time, the activist has even testified in front of Congress about funding for the arts.

Washington had a close-up view of environmental injustice growing up in The Bronx. She'd escape periodically to her parents' home in upstate New York where she tuned in to nature. "There was this house in the middle of nowhere," she reminisces. "There was fishing and hiking and we were always picking up rocks and looking for salamanders and worms. We spent a lot of time walking quietly in the woods to look for deer, chasing rabbits and blueberry picking."

Since that early seed was planted, Washington, who snatched up one of the first Prius hybrid electric cars to roll off the assembly line, began making small changes to help preserve the planet, which is something, she says, that everyone can do. She follows the guidelines of the Environmental Media Association. There are some things, though, that won't be going green for the beautiful star.

"I won't tolerate extremists," she says. "I don't want to be a hypocrite, but I'm not giving up my hair dryer. Do whatever is doable for you. Whether it's buying recycled toothbrushes or shopping at a local organic fruit market or changing the lightbulbs. Taking tiny steps can help in a huge way."

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THE 'FLY' MAVERICK

MARIO VAN PEEBLES

AGE: 51 Actor, director, filmmaker and reality-show host

HOW HE SAVED HIS WORLD: An advocate of solar power and hybrid cars, the host of the new reality show Mario's Green House wants to be environmentally conscious while still having "flavor."

Mario Van Peebles may be one of the few Brothers who can make being green cool.

"There are a lot of ways to do it in order to bring it to our people. My belief is, if we don't make green sexy and fun and attractive, it doesn't happen," says Van Peebles. In fact, the host of a new eco-conscious reality show called Mario's Green House, scheduled to air on the VOOM HD Networks in 2009, is living the green life. "We've got a hybrid car. This bad boy is a hybrid, but we turned it out a little bit so that when you are rolling to the premiere you still look fly. You know we like a little flavor."