“Earth Girl Won't Stand For It!”: Representations of Environmental (In)Justice in Mayah's Lot (2012)

Abstract

As the global climate crisis escalates, environmental disaster and extreme weather will play a defining role in the lives of many of today's children, particularly those from impoverished communities and communities of color. However, environmental children's literature has overwhelmingly failed to educate readers about environmental injustice or equip them with the tools to combat these pressing issues. Rebecca Bratspies and Charlie La Greca's comic Mayah's Lot (2012) counters this troubling silence by empowering children to pursue environmental justice. The comic centers on Mayah, a young black girl who discovers that a corporation plans to transform a vacant lot in her urban neighborhood into a toxic waste storage facility. Mayah joins forces with her neighbors to halt the development, participating in protests, community meetings, and legal action. The comic concludes with the community defeating the corporation and collaborating to turn the lot into public green space. By highlighting the intersections between environmental and racial inequalities, along with showcasing a range of viable community activist strategies, I argue that Mayah's Lot demonstrates how environmental justice-oriented comics can empower young readers to participate in environmental advocacy and develop resilience in the face of environmental disruption.