Environmentalism of African Americans: An Analysis of the Subculture and Barriers Theories

The objectives of this study included (1) assessing the differences between African Americans' and Euro-Americans' environmental attitudes, (2) determining preferences for, and frequency of participation in environmental behaviors of African Americans and Euro-Americans, and (3) testing the influence of feelings of powerlessness as barriers to environmental behavior. Survey data regarding environmental attitudes were collected from 277 Ss using the New Environmental Paradigm Scale, the Environmental Issue Scale, and the Environmental Behavior Index. 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.