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Environmental Racism
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Environmental Racism
The paper aims to evaluate the strategies that serve as interventions to mitigate environmental racism and work toward environmental justice. Agyeman et al (2016) found that despite the country advocating and fighting for equal rights for all citizens, environmental injustices are still happening. Environmental racism is one of the inequities, whereby some laws or policies are applied disproportionately. The laws discriminate against some people, target people of color or low-income earners, and expose them to environmental hazards.
However, community members have not been quiet and they have been doing the following to mitigate environmental injustice. First, educating themselves on how environmental injustices are practiced. One way of knowing that a certain community is being discriminated against is understanding the disproportionate environmental hazards. Communities are also learning about the local and federal policies to understand when they are applied inappropriately. Second, forming community-based social justice associations. Some community members have studied law and gained other necessary knowledge on environmental justice and decided to give back to the community. They have helped communities to form movements that fight against injustices and become advocates where people can seek support and guidance. A good example is Black Lives Matter.
Fourth, some communities have been using boycotts to express their anger and disappointment with environmental racism. Many companies value and take the necessary precautions to avoid harming the environment where people live. However, some deliberately cause environmental harm to vulnerable communities for economic gain. After trying all other means and failing to see progress, the only option is always to boycott. The community organizes peaceful demonstrations and walks in the streets seeking justice.
