Environmental racism: causes, impacts, and policy responses

Environmental Racism

There are several consequences of environmental racism that society faces today. Mainly, the phenomenon means that black people, other lower-income groups, and working-class people tend to be more exposed to pollution and other environmental problems both at home and at the workplace. On the other hand, higher-income groups tend not only to be better informed than those with fewer resources, but also to not be as exposed to the difficulties experienced by the environment today. An interesting factor related to environmental racism itself is its subtlety -- few people are even aware of the uneven distribution of populations in terms of the environment.

Another consequences of environmental racism relates to this subtlety. Very few of those disadvantaged populations most influenced by pollution are in fact involved in environmental programs. At the same time, only minimal academic research has been done on the environmental quality of the workplaces and homes where black communities are in the majority.

An important reason for this is the social and legal problems that often take precedence over the environment when studying these communities. Problems such as crime, drugs, poverty, unemployment and family issues have been studied in much greater depth than environmental problems, as these problems often manifest themselves much more obviously than the effects of environmental stressors.

The environment and its problems for these communities can however no longer be ignored. Pollution is for example a major health and environmental problem for black communities throughout the United States. Few academic studies however focus on how these communities handle problems such as municipal solid-waste facilities, hazardous-waste landfills, toxic-waste dumps, chemical emissions, and job-related hazards and risks to their physical health and well-being.

The fact that these particular problems among the black and poor communities are not studied, is mainly the result of not only currently sociological factors, but also of historical and ideological factors in terms of the environmental movement. This movement is mostly driven by the white middle classes, with both the resources, inclination and education to successfully manage and mitigate environmental problems. This particular profile prevents the program, either consciously or unconsciously, from being applied to poorer communities. Indeed, the problem is often invisible as it applies to these communities, as mentioned above.

Another interesting consequence is the reaction of the very parties affected to this invisibility. Black and poor communities themselves also tend to turn a blind eye to the way in which environmental problems affect them. While activists have tirelessly worked for the social and economic equality of their people, black student activists have been somewhat silent and inactive as it relates to environmental problems.

In addition to the lack of study and activity by those most affected, the resources and talents of the black community have not been fully utilized to address the environmental problems and factors that they face. These challenges include large-scale polluters such as both government and private industries.

Despite the relatively unknown nature of the problem in terms of study and indeed recognition, pollution in black and poor communities is not something that is new. It has simply been ignored and overshadowed by other issues viewed as more important by both the communities themselves and those involved in helping to empower them. Indeed, the involvement of the communities and activists in addressing pollution and concomitant discriminatory environmental practices are indeed recent phenomena. It is as if black people recently realized that environmental problems also entail a form of discrimination, and have begun to act accordingly.

Regardless of how it is viewed or indeed ignored by the worldwide community, environmental racism is a social evil that needs to be eradicated. One major way in which this can be achieved is education. Living in an integrated society means that education can be focused upon everyone within this society at the same time. In this way, both white, black, and other people can be educated about the environment, as well as strategies to implement towards a healthier environment for everybody. Such programs should then be greatly focused upon issues such as the equal right to a clean and healthy environment.

A further way to combat environmental racism is to address the issue with corporations and businesses. Businesses should focus their resources towards community projects that help black and poor communities to become cleaner and healthier for their inhabitants. This process can be connected to other social community projects such as schooling or building homes for the poor.

Finally, workplaces and educational facilities serving poor and black communities should be approached on a collaborative basis. It is only by working together that the United States can address the many social and economic factors facing it. This is also true of environmental racism. In addition to an understanding of the phenomenon itself, educational facilities and workplaces should invest their intellectual and financial resources into educating and activating its youth towards mitigating the problems experienced.

Environmental racism is the result of both social and economic discrimination that has been suffered for years. It will take time and effort to overcome it.

PART II.

1)

According to environmental advocates, environmental racism relates to the way in which discrimination has been applied to ensure that the rich, privilege, often white middle to upper classes have had access to a clean and healthy environment in which to live, while poorer, often black communities are faced with significant environmental problems such as pollution on an industrial scale. This problem not only relates to open discrimination, but also to a more subtle prejudice against poor communities. Indeed, so view studies have been conducted in the area that environmental problems facing poor communities in the United Stats have become somewhat invisible. Their lack of resources and prominence in terms of culture and society in general, along with a basic lack of action among these communities themselves, have resulted in the problem being ignored to the point of denial.