On Thursday, April 10, 2014, I had the honor of listening to Dr. John Francis, Planet Walker. He was invited to speak at the Inspire Speak Series at the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. Dr. Francis was sponsored by The Green Building Alliance. He was an African American environmentalist long before environmentalism coalesced into a national movement in the late 20th Century and a cultural way of being in the 21st Century. Watch his Ted Talk:
He proudly continues to advocate for the earth.
John Francis walks the Earth, carrying a message of careful, truly sustainable development and respect for our planet.
(https://www.ted.com/speakers/john_francis)
African Americans and the Environment 
I am looking at this page in the Great Torrington Library and have little time allowance. i WOULD HAVE LIKED TO READ jOHN-fRANCIS’ SPEECH MADE IN THE pHIPPS cONSERVATORY IN pITTSBURGH BUT PERHAPS BECAUSE I UNDERSTAND HE DID NOT SPEAK FOR 17YRS, HE DIDN’T SAY VERY MUCH IF ANYTHING BY WAY OF WORDS… i AM INTRIGUED BY THE SEARCH FOR MY Old and very dear Friend – John who was a tenant in Oxford in 1981. Much love to him if at all possible please!! Trisha
He said quite a bit. It was great hearing what he had to share.
As I watched the TED Talk with John Francis I was deeply moved. I learned more about who I am and what I need to liberate myself from. My new manta: Stop, have stillness, be quite and listen!
Yes, indeed!