A Case of Environmental Injustice
By: Yewon Lee
One prominent case of negative environmental impacts disproportionately affecting communities of color, especially predominantly black communities, is Cancer Alley in Louisiana. Following the Mississippi River from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, there is a strip of land in which industrial factories and chemical plants fill the area. The river allows easier transportation on ship and the Louisiana area has little regulation to prevent companies from producing harmful substances. Although standards are set to limit toxin concentrations, the state does not actually regularly check in with the plants, setting up for loopholes in the environmental laws.
St. Gabriel, a city in Cancer Alley, is home to thousands of African American residents, a demographic consisting of ⅔ of the entire population. Since the mid 20th century, chemical factories have been building their plants in predominantly black neighborhoods like St. Gabriel in Louisiana. Hoping the influx of industry would bring jobs and employment opportunities, many community members welcomed the factories. Unfortunately, most companies refused and continue to exclude the black community in their employment; only about 5 to 19 percent of employees were African American as compared to the 66% of blacks in the St. Gabriel city and surrounding areas.
While the local residents were actively misled regarding employment opportunities, the factories themselves have negatively impacted the health of thousands of families. From yellow raindrops to blue fluids in ditches to a distinct smell of nail-polish remover, the factories continue to spew carcinogenic chemicals in their industrial processes. In fact, the state of Louisiana has one of the highest death rates from cancer at 168.1 deaths per 100,000, and even these cancer rates are linked with higher incidence in communities of color. Cancer rates do not tell the whole story, though. From COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) to lung infections, the Cancer Alley region has also had one of the highest death rates from COVID-19 since people with existing conditions are more likely to suffer serious complications from the coronavirus.
Residents continue to organize efforts in protesting against these factories and call for action. To learn more about their efforts, the environmental impacts in BIPOC communities, and to join the movement, please see the links below.
Sources: