If we do not save the environment, then whatever we do in civil rights will be of no meaning, because then we will have the equality of extinction.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes that environmental preservation is crucial for the future of civil rights and humanity's survival.
James L. Farmer, Jr. suggests that without a healthy environment, efforts towards civil rights become futile. The equality of extinction implies that if environmental issues are not addressed, all societal progress, including civil rights, will be rendered meaningless as humanity faces catastrophic consequences.
In practice
In a speech about environmental justice, one could use this quote to link civil rights with ecological responsibility.
Nothing is so beautiful as spring - when weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush; Thrush's eggs look little low heavens, and thrush through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring the ear, it strikes like lightning to hear him sing.
Here is a little forest Whose leaf is ever green; Here is a brighter garden, Where not a frost has been; In its unfading flowers I hear the bright bee hum; Prithee, my brother, Into my garden come!
No prosaic description can portray the grandeur of 40 miles of rugged mountains rising beyond a placid lake in which each shadowy precipice and each purple gorge is reflected with a vividness that rivals the original.
Why make so much of fragmentary blue In here and there a bird, or butterfly, Or flower, or wearing-stone, or open eye, When heaven presents in sheets the solid hue?
I think that the world should be full of cats and full of rain, that's all, just cats and rain, rain and cats, very nice, good night.
I see an America whose rivers and valleys and lakes hills and streams and plains the mountains over our land and nature's wealth deep under the earth are protected as the rightful heritage of all the people.
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