Climate change is one of the most hotly debated issues between Republicans and Democrats. What isn't as discussed is how its effects disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities, often leaving them in unlivable conditions. This phenomenon is known as environmental racism, which is one of the most pervasive forms of discrimination in the United States, sometimes referred to as the "New Jim Crow." It suffers from a lack of media coverage, accountability and effective policies to help and protect these communities and their residents.
Communities of color face greater exposure to pollutants, toxins and other environmental hazards than affluent white communities. Due to the lack of policies and protections as well as systemic racism, these communities were deemed disposable. This attitude influenced the concept of redlining, which began in 1934. Redlining made the segregation of white and black communities legal, creating a breeding ground for environmental injustices. This segregation allowed polluting facilities to be placed near communities of color and low-income areas, ultimately leading to increased pollution in these areas. Long periods of exposure to chemicals, poor air quality and pollutants left the residents of these communities with serious health conditions, often leading to cancer, premature death and poisoning.
Even today, the effects of redlining persist in environmental injustices. A specific example can be seen in the area now known as Cancer Alley. Within this community, residents live alongside fossil fuel and petrochemical operations. There are more than 200 industrial plants within an 85-mile stretch along the Mississippi River. This proximity leaves the residents of this Louisiana town bearing a higher pollution burden than many other predominantly white areas within the state. Those living in Cancer Alley suffer from elevated risks of cancer, respiratory ailments and other health issues. 91% of the population in Cancer Alley is Black, and they have a risk of cancer that is 47% higher than the national average.
Environmental justice advocates have protested, voted and pleaded with the EPA for years to stop the growth of pollution-spreading industries near low-income communities of color, but they have had little success in places like Cancer Alley. Despite the overwhelming evidence and research, nothing has been done to protect these communities. The phrase "pollution does not discriminate" is often used to justify polluting companies in underrepresented neighborhoods, but while the phrase is true, it is humans who discriminate, and the amount of pollution one place receives over another falls into the hands of people. So, although the phrase is accurate, it is misleading and narrow.
The word "unacceptable" is not enough to describe the conditions and living situations of the people within these communities. Communities like Cancer Alley reveal how racism continues to grow and adapt into more covert forms and puts into perspective that racism is an infinite concept that is a forever cycle.
A major reason environmental racism and injustices persist is the lack of representation for these communities and their people. Politicians are often seen as liars and selfish, looking for ways to fill their own pockets and advance their careers without any thought for the people left in the aftermath. Politicians are funded by big oil and gas companies, placing them in the pockets of these industries. This perspective shows how, for many politicians, money is more important than the lives of their constituents—especially their non-white, low-income constituents. Should money really outweigh the importance of human lives, health and homes?
Acknowledgment: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author.
Commentaires