The Brothers: a movement for environmental justice

The Albany Liberator was an independent newspaper created by The Brothers, an African American civil rights organization in Albany, New York published from 1967 to 1971. Using content analysis of The Liberator, this article presents The Brothers’ campaigns for equal employment, improved neighborhood quality and access to healthcare through the lens of environmental justice. The findings indicate that while The Brothers were not explicitly an environmental justice organization, the group did use an environmental justice framework in its messaging. Using the framework of distributive justice, not only did they advocate for equal employment, but also jobs that did not harm their mental and physical health. The Brothers also demanded the equal distribution of environmental benefits like quality housing and waste management. The Brothers were also active participants in the creation of a health clinic that embraced recognition justice for the unique concerns of its low-income patients of color. The Liberator also promoted participatory justice by recruiting community members to not only attend the clinic, but to become members of an advisory council to ensure that the clinic reflected the needs of the community.