Environmental Injustice In African Americans

One of the most surprising facts about the environment is how African Americans are the race that least contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, yet they are the race that is most disproportionately burdened by environmental racism (White-Newsome, 2016). African Americans are more likely to face environmental harm, poor health, unemployment, economic hardships, and extreme weather. These conditions tend to have adverse effects on the livelihood of these ethnic minorities, and cause them to be at a disadvantage compared to other racial groups. “Climate change adds another layer of risk for millions of Americans, particularly low-income and/or communities of color that have been, and continue to be, exposed to greater health hazards in their homes, on their jobs, and in their neighborhoods, compared to their more affluent counterparts” (White-Newsome, 2016). A research study was conducted on the history of environmental racism, and …show more content…
The focal points are the environmental injustice provided to African American communities, as their health are at risk due to the poisonous and toxic industrial pollution (Bullard, 2007). What is shocking is how the local, state, and federal government has done little in order to combat this racial divide. Not only does the government allow these black communities to live under poor environmental conditions, but they also take relatively longer to respond to emergencies. One of the most recent examples is when Hurricane Katrina destroyed many black communities, and the federal government was widely criticized for their delayed response (Bullard, 2007). Such environmental conditions create a situation where the communities face additional toxins, pollutants, and environmental conditions that are detrimental to their health. By comparison, predominately white communities tend to face less industrial pollution and faster emergency response