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ATLANTA, Ga. – In the late 1800s, the industrial boom took place. Since then, coal and fossil fuels have propelled the world into the modern era. While the technological advancements seen over the past century have been monumental, they have also contributed to an evergrowing presence of atmospheric carbon. With the global climate nearing its tipping point, one Atlanta non-profit is exploring ways to connect clean energy with Black culture.
Klean Energy Kulture is a project brainstormed by an accomplished environmentalist and a decorated hip-hop producer. Together, the group is pioneering campaigns to make clean energy cool using hip-hop and entertainment.
Michael Hawthorne Jr began his political career during the first campaign of President Barack Obama, where he served as the deputy field director. With that experience came many new opportunities. Hawthorne then went on to work for Al Gore’s We Power America project to establish a cap-and-trade bill at the federal level. After a firsthand look at the potential of clean energy and its disconnect from the Black community, Hawthorne knew that was his calling. He has since worked for major environmental groups like the Sierra Club and Greenpeace.
Corey Dennard, also known as Mr. Hanky, was born into a family of music. His mother was a classically trained musician employed by the Atlanta Public School District. Gaining inspiration from the music around him, Dennard pursued an internship at ColliPark Music. From humble beginnings as a DJ, Dennard started making beats. Some of his hometown friends had started making names for themselves in the rap world and Dennard offered his tracks. Those friends included the Ying Yang Twins and Gucci Mane. “I got that first check and I never looked back,” he said.
Joining Forces
During a sitdown interview with The Black Wall Street Times, the duo shared the story of how they first met. At the time, Hawthorne was managing an independent artist looking to work with Dennard. Noticing that Hawthorne was dressed to the nines, Dennard asked if he was a banker or an attorney to which Hawthorne responded, “I’m an environmentalist.”
Oftentimes, when someone pictures an environmentalist they may picture a flower child reminiscent of the 1970s. Far less often, do they picture a Black man in a well-tailored suit.
This piqued Dennard’s interest and the two got to talking. Hawthorne started explaining that Black communities bear the burden of higher utility bills and polluting facilities.
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“As we were talking I started noticing certain health issues,” Dennard said. “Asthma is very prevalent, food deserts that line our communities are why so many people have high blood pressure,” he continues. The intersectionality of health issues that are common in most Black communities can typically be traced back to zoning practices such as redlining. Following the New Deal post-World War II, many lending agencies refused to fund grocery stores and similar services in “less desirable” neighborhoods. They would outline these areas in red pen. We can still see the effects of this today, with marginalized communities having less access to fresh, healthy food options.
With climate change exacerbating existing disparities, more individuals are finding unique ways to promote people and the planet.
Klean Energy Kulture is Born
Their first conversation was a catalyst for Dennard and the two combined efforts to create Klean Energy Kulture. Hawthorne had already invested time and effort in the environmental justice movement. The only problem was that it wasn’t necessarily hip. That’s when Dennard came in and said “Let’s make it cool.”
With so many issues plaguing America’s Black communities, we asked Klean Energy Kulture why the focus is on clean energy. “The focus stems from climate change and the impacts it’s having on not just the earth but entire communities,” Hawthorne said. “The fossil fuel game is real and it’s only going to continue to fuel climate change.”
Hawthorne mentions how buildings and transportation emit vast sums of carbon into the atmosphere. “We’ve got to reduce our carbon footprint and to do that we have to bring online more clean power.”
In America, the climate movement has been approached as a transaction, such as electing environmentally conscious officials to promote sustainable initiatives. Dennard and Hawthorne know that the climate clock is ticking and the world needs something more than placing allies in office.
“We’ve got less than seven years to prevent global warming past 1.5º C, so if we’re going to get there we have to have a major shift in our consumerism,” Hawthorne stated. “That’s why we started focusing on clean energy. If we get [Black] culture, which is one of the biggest drivers of consumerism, to adopt this lifestyle then we’re heading into territory where we’ve mitigated the climate crisis a great deal.”
Bringing Klean Energy to the Kulture
So how does one make clean energy cool? Well for starters, Black people have long set the stage for what is considered cool. From music to fashion, the world takes notice of Black culture.
Klean Energy Kulture embarked on one of its first adventures with a campaign titled Electrify the Club. The news spread like wildfire, and the event sold out within three days, becoming an instant hit. They established a partnership with Uber to transport VIPs in stylish electric vehicles to a nightclub powered by solar energy, while also offering convenient charging stations. After that night, Hawthorne and Dennard knew they were on to something special.
“A lot of people don’t know about the clean economy,” Hawthorne said. “So we want to be the cultural translators that make that connection.” Using entertainment and experiences, the group is educating the community about the possibilities of clean energy.
Advocacy Beyond Atlanta
Klean Energy Kulture wants to expand the lifestyle to all Black communities by 2035. The team told us more about what that would look like. “It’s homes saving money on energy bills, bringing online clean power, clean buses and clean transportation,” Hawthorne said. The non-profit wants all utilities to shift away from gas and coal as the main power sources.
To reach their goals, KEK is working to normalize clean energy taking priority in everyday personal decisions. Whether it is someone deciding on their next car or a family considering installing solar panels in their home, KEK will continue promoting sustainable solutions.
Dennard is currently working on a collaboration with several artists that seeks to make these conversations mainstream. Hawthorne added that they are also planning to expand the use of clean energy in Atlanta’s club scene. While they weren’t able to share too much about the upcoming projects the duo is excited about the near future of Klean Energy Kulture.
“That’s what the climate movement needs,” Hawthorne stated. “We need this fresh breath of air that does it completely different from how it’s been done before.”