Many of issues we face with climate change is the result of a legacy of extraction, colonialism and slavery.
Environmental injustice and racism are very much part of this dichotomy.
Currently, in historic Black rural communities throughout the US, people are suffering from asthma, upper respiratory diseases and cancers and they’re uninsured.
The racist and predatory geographical positioning of manufacturing plants always end with Black communities bearing the consequences.
Right now, as we advance with worldwide EV Green goals, we should be thinking about some of the likely consequences.
Although, these projects are branded as something “positive”, sustainable and progressive—it may not be the case.
In order to accommodate and meet the demand of consumers projected to purchase clean energy vehicles over the next few years until the country becomes petroleum free, driven by our government's new incentive program, corporations, private investors, and politicians have already started looking for new vulnerable historic Black towns.
When these plants are introduced to these economically depressed and at-risk neighborhoods, the locals must deal with increasingly challenging socioeconomic problems like chronic sickness, financial instability, and homelessness.
These corporations often destabilize municipalities, harm the environment, monopolize real estate, buy up land, and hire workers who have no connection to the land but are prepared to pay soaring housing expenses.
These “good paying jobs” are simply an illusion.
For instance, wages include exploitational living expenses that will be paid back to the same enterprises that provide work and also own the real estate, and jobs don't go to locals.
HB+ can help support community leadership and the new generation of activists to avert the same ole’ scenario from playing out, through advisory, resources, education and actionables.
Also, here are some general tips that can potentially empower these communities:
Create land trusts (In these situations, trusts can help members stabilize property by capping rising housing costs and increasing home ownership; a great defense against gentrification and homelessness)
Coordinate local pacts with other grassroots organizations and activists
Work with officials to improve access to healthcare and to develop restrictions and guidelines on how waste is handled
Reach out to states preservation department to try and get your communities and landmarks protected
Use social media to expand outreach
Please get in touch with me if you want to learn more about environmental racism's components and intricacies. I can assist you or your organization in better comprehending the relationship between environmentalism and racism and how it reacts to it, as well as in developing a plan to develop solutions.
