The Sustainable Culture Lab is an innovative cultural think tank that merges language, philosophy, art, and activism to create sustainable cultural change. The focus of our work derives from a cultural analysis formulated by Barrett Holmes Pitner. As a journalist and opinion columnist writing about race, culture, and politics in America, Barrett noticed that with regards to most pressing issues in our society America both lacked sufficient language to describe what ails us and the philosophy to formulate a better future. To address this need, Barrett started crafting and unearthing words to fill this void, and the philosophy to generate sustainable change. Three of SCL’s core words are ethnocide, Eǔtopia, and Freecano. Ethnocide is the destruction of culture while keeping the people, and we use this term to describe the transatlantic slave trade. The creation of ethnocidal societies in the Americas still forms the foundation of our systemic inequalities today. Eǔtopia means “sustainable good place” and is a philosophical and linguistic progression beyond the false promise of utopia. It is also the antithesis of ethnocide. Lastly, Freecano is a liberating cultural identity that we believe can be embraced by African diaspora people in the Americas. Each of these words exists as part of a transformational philosophy for change, and through our philosophy-in-action framework, we work with artists to manifest these radical ideas in engaging and accessible ways. Philosophy combined with art has always provided the foundation for action and sustainable change, and our methodology combines philosophy, art, and action to make that change. SCL hosts monthly events, produces content, creates art and culture materials and merchandise, drafts policy papers, and more. We invite you to join our community and become a part of revolutionary cultural change.
