A Little Sunlight and Sustainability Equals True Freedom
In a world where modern conveniences constantly surround us, it is easy to overlook the silent dangers lurking in our everyday lives. Recently, I came across a warning label on my dryer that read: “⚠️ Cancer & Reproductive Harm.” At that moment, I paused, questioning why—something as simple as drying clothes comes with a health warning. This realization sparked a much deeper conversation, one that is long overdue in our communities.
From the water we drink to the air we breathe, toxins are ever-present (especially in Black and Brown communities). Many of the products we trust to clean our homes and care for our families are laced with harmful chemicals. We are being exposed to environmental hazards not by choice, but by design—through systemic neglect, corporate greed, and a lack of regulation that disproportionately affects our communities.
This discovery took me back to my childhood summers at Grandma’s house in the thick of that Florida heat. I helped Grandma and my great Auntie hang clothes on the line. The weight of damp sheets, the fresh scent of clean laundry, the golden sunlight—this was sustainable, toxin-free living before we had a name for it. Back then, we didn’t need dryer sheets or dryers. The sun was our dryer, our purifier, our natural healer. It eliminated bacteria, infused our clothes with freshness, and reminded us that the Earth provides all we need—when we honor it. Why should we have to fight for the right to live as our ancestors did—freely, naturally, and in harmony with the Earth?
Returning to this practice isn’t just about nostalgia; but health and sustainability. The sun’s UV rays are a natural disinfectant, killing bacteria and mold. Sun-dried clothes remain free of artificial scents and chemical residues. Avoiding conventional drying methods reduces exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals in many fabric softeners and dryer sheets.
As we recognize Women’s History Month, it’s important to honor the legacy of the women who have long been at the forefront of environmental justice, health advocacy, and sustainable living. Dark brown and Indigenous women, in particular, have carried the knowledge of natural remedies, community care, and self-sufficiency for generations. From the grandmothers who taught us to respect the earth to the activists fighting against environmental racism today, women have always been the caretakers of both our people and our planet. Their wisdom, resilience, and leadership are the foundation of our collective fight for clean air, safe water, and toxin-free homes.
Like so many of us, I dream of a community where we don’t just survive but truly live in freedom. A place where we grow our food, filter our water, and heal through the natural ways the Most High intended. A place where our children are raised in toxin-free homes, breathing clean air, and drinking uncontaminated water. At Nigisti HiSmith Ministries, we believe in communal healing and righteous action. This is bigger than a dryer warning, if we don’t advocate for our health, who will?
How can you take action? Read labels & make informed choices. Support businesses that prioritize people over profit. Or, reclaim ancestral practices—sun-drying clothes, growing food, filtering water.
Now, I commission you to think bigger: How do we create communities where we don’t have to fight for basic rights for a higher quality of life? How do we build spaces where our children don’t have to wonder if the air they breathe or the water they drink will harm them? Now, you are talking my language. The vision for true freedom starts with us—our choices, our advocacy, and our commitment to reclaiming what was always ours.