October 21, 1982: Rev. Joseph Lowery front and center of the Warren County Protests in Afton, North Carolina.
Environmental racism is a term that describes the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards, such as pollution, toxic waste disposal, and industrial activities, on communities of color and low-income populations. It is a form of systemic racism that results in these marginalized groups bearing an unequal burden of environmental health risks and degraded living conditions.
Key Aspects of Environmental Racism
 |
Location of hazardous facilities | Polluting industries, landfills, incinerators, and other hazardous waste sites are often located in or near low-income neighborhoods and communities of color, exposing residents to higher levels of air, water, and soil contamination. |
 |
Lack of enforcement | Environmental laws and regulations are often less strictly enforced in marginalized communities, allowing companies to engage in practices that would not be tolerated in wealthier, predominantly white areas. |
 |
Limited political power | Disadvantaged communities frequently lack the economic resources and political influence to effectively advocate for their environmental rights and protections. |
 |
Health impacts | Exposure to environmental toxins can lead to higher rates of respiratory illnesses, birth defects, cancer, and other health problems among affected populations. |
 |
Perpetuation of inequality | Environmental racism compounds existing socioeconomic disparities, contributing to a cycle of poverty, poor health, and limited access to clean environments and natural resources. |
|
Mapping Inequality Project, Richmond University |
In the United States, environmental racism has strong ties to the practice of redlining [1]. Redlining was a discriminatory practice by which banks, insurance companies, and other institutions systematically denied or limited loans, mortgages, and insurance within specific geographic areas, typically minority neighborhoods. The term 'redlining' comes from the neighborhoods being outlined in red on maps and designated as hazardous investment risks [2]. While the Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited racial discrimination in lending, the effects of redlining persist in the present day. This discriminatory practice created a cycle of segregation, disinvestment, and lower rates of home ownership that entrenched environmental racism by containing minority groups in neighborhoods disproportionately exposed to toxins, inadequate services and fewer nature amenities [3]. The negative impacts of redlining on public health have compounded over generations, leaving major environmental disparities among redlined (commonly referred to as 'HOLC' neighborhoods; this namesake being after the creators of redlining, the Home Owner's Loan Corporation) neighborhoods [4]. |
[1] The Effects of the 1930s HOLC “Redlining” Maps† (Aaronson, D.; Hartley, D., & Mazumder, B. 2021).
[2] Federal ‘redlining’ maps: A critical reappraisal (Markley, S., 2023).
[3] Disparities in Distribution of Particulate Matter Emission Sources by Race and Poverty Status (Mikati et al., 2018).
[4] Health outcomes in redlined versus non-redlined neighborhoods: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Lee et al., 2022).
