Weeek 5 – Nia
Nia Maybin posted Sep 12, 2024 11:08
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Various forms of structural racism build on each other just like what is happening in Louisiana in cancer alley. Before cancer alley existed, there were sugar plantations where thousands of slaves worked on, once slavery ended and the slaves were freed many black people stayed by the plantations land. Years later some of the plantations were converted into chemical plants. Due to redlining and other racial discrimination black people still live in cancer alley, constantly inhaling toxic chemicals that are slowly killing them. Once Covid-19 hit the U.S many black people in Louisiana died from the sickness of Covid due to weak lungs from over exposure of air pollution.
Only 14% of the population in Louisiana is black while 41% of Covid deaths came from the black populace. This video alone “one reason why coronavirus hits black people the hardest” shows the long-term harms to black people and minorities. Even though slaves were freed over 200 hundred years ago their families today still feel the post-effects of slavery. In Louisiana the communities that live around power plants are living in one of the worst air quality environments in the U.S which is causing lasting health problems. As stated in the video as of March 26 2020, “the Trump administration suspended clean air protections across the country. So in Louisiana’s cancer alley, that means petrochemical facilities will now have no oversight over how much they pollute” (Vox, 2020). Now that there are no restrictions for power plants to hold them accountable to polluting and making people sick. The communities close to those areas will be more likely to become sick, die at earlier ages, and less likely to be able to keep high income jobs due to illness. This will also possibility cause a continuous cycle for people of color to stay in these low income and poor air quality environments.
After learning more about discrimination towards people of color and the root of racism I think one of the biggest social changes we need is a shift in our government. I believe to see change we need to see our leaders implement it, our government is far too corrupt right now and we are seeing more restrictions to people’s freedom in the U.S. The U.S strives on being the land of the free, yet we have government officials restricting body autonomy, polluting our environment, and making it stricter to learn about critical race theory which impacts people of color the most. From the supreme court down to local elections it needs to be readvised to where it is fair for everyone. Some things that should be revised is, making it more accessible to vote, an age limit to being a government official, and more power to the people to have a voice in our politics.
Resources:
Ruiz, N. G. (2020, July 1).
Many black and Asian Americans say they have experienced discrimination amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Pew Research Center.
VOX. (2020, May 22).
One reason why coronavirus hits Black people the hardest. YouTube.
