By now, you have most likely heard about the Dakota Access Pipeline along with other cases such as the Flint water crisis, both situations lacking a resolution despite the 2 years that have passed. Unfortunately, these are only some of the environmental and health issues that minorities face. Time and time again studies have shown that lower income minorities are the groups that are the most exposed to hazardous environments.
Urban decay, toxic waste, and pollution are some of the numerous problems in these areas. Pollution alone has been linked to various illnesses, including asthma and as of more recently (according to a new study conducted by the University of Southern California), Alzheimer’s as well. Of course, the people living in these communities are predominately latinos, blacks, and other minority groups..no surprise there. In fact, it has been shown that children living in poverty (minority) are more likely to develop asthma over time than a child born into wealth (white).
The problem with this is not only the blatant disregard for the health of the people in these areas, but also the lack of income and resources given to them so that they are able to treat these illnesses that they are unwillingly faced with. It is important to keep in mind that the people living in these communities do not have much, these are poor neighborhoods. How is it fair for the government to put this upon people who cannot afford to pay a visit to the doctor, much less afford the medication or treatment it takes to fix it? Even then, who’s to say a relapse won’t occur? After all, this is the place they call home.
The link between race and location in cases like the ones mentioned earlier are far from coincidental.
Flint, the city that has had contaminated water since 2014, is a predominately black and poor community. The people of Flint, Michigan are still fighting for the right to clean water today. Numerous deaths have been reported due to the poisonous water yet the situation does not seem to move forward in any way, shape or form.
Similarly, the Dakota Access Pipeline hopes to build on Native American soil. A protest camp had settled on the construction site for several months to halt what would damage sacred land and contaminate the water in that area as well. Lawsuits and a permit denial later, the camp has reached its deadline, with the remaining protesters being arrested and forced off the property.
I think in these instances is when we should ask ourselves whether or not cases like these would be happening in predominantly white neighborhoods? Why are we allowing minorities to face these problems? The right for clean water should not be something that should be fought so hard for.
