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Environmental Justice

Environmental justice is defined as the fair treatment and involvement of everyone regardless of race, nationality, color, or income as they pertain to environmental law development, implementation, and enforcement. At the People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit, the 17 principles of environmental justice were created which helped to environmental justice and ways people can attain it.

Environmental justice can be connected with the “Black Lives Matter” movement because both emphasize the fair and equal treatment of people, but obviously the movement in question particularly fights for Black rights. Another connection is evidenced by the article in Atlanta Black Star, which demonstrated that Black communities are vulnerable populations due to their race/ethnicity being historically being in the lower income bracket. Playing a role here are the social determinants of health which include: economic stability, education, social and community context, health and healthcare, and neighborhood and build environment. 

With this community likely falling below the poverty line, they don’t have the same opportunities as other groups so they become victims of environmental racism where their homes are situated in or near highly toxic areas unfit for healthy living. Social determinants apply to this because as this community attains less education, their economic instability grows which consequently impact their ability to attain proper health and healthcare. Furthermore, this population is also deprived by the social and community context due to racial discrimination, which leads them to reside in neighborhoods with terrible living conditions and built environments that are unsafe.

 It’s important to recognize these social issues and take action. If they aren’t provided the support necessary to achieve healthy lives in a toxic-free environment, then the cycle will continue. More Blacks and other minority groups will experience suffering health from environmental injustice the root cause of their health/medical issues are directly related to dangerous homes in hazardous neighborhoods. 

Comments

  1. JudyJudeSeptember 16, 2018 at 7:03 PM

    Yes, Black communities are vulnerable to toxic environments because the buildings and housing are hazardous. History keeps repeating itself, yet in different ways. Injustices and lack of fruitful resources seems to continue to be an issue.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Antonio SorianoOctober 10, 2018 at 2:02 PM

    Hi Nica, social justice is so closely related to environmental justice that we must acknowledge the root causes and similarities of both. To break the cycle is one of the most difficult things we will face as future public health leaders.

    ReplyDelete

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