One racial injustice frequently overlooked is the effect of discrimination on the environment a community is based in. Environmental racism refers to the way in which neighborhoods of color are burdened with a disproportionate number of hazards, including toxic waste facilities, garbage dumps, and other sources of environmental pollution and foul odors that lower quality of life. All around the country, members of these communities bear a greater burden of the health problems that result from higher exposure to waste and pollution.
Research shows that environmental racism shows up in the form of: environmentally unsound housing, schools with asbestos problems, and facilities/playgrounds with lead paint. A 20-year comparative study led by sociologist Robert Bullard determined “race to be more important than socioeconomic status in predicting the location of the nation’s commercial hazardous waste facilities” (Bullard et al., 2007).
Why does environmental racism exist? Mainly because those with resources, most often predominately White communities, can raise awareness, money, and public attention to ensure that their communities are unsullied, leading to an inequitable distribution of environmental burdens.
Explore today's challenges to learn more about the impact of environmental racism on community health.
