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Climate Change Denial Is Devastating Communities of Color
Environmental injustice is one of the most dangerous forms of institutional racism because most people don’t even realize it’s happening
Pollution-related deaths are three times higher for African Americans than the national average.
The days when racial slurs and tropes could be expressed openly and overtly are dying (at least not without consequences), but that doesn’t mean bigotry and hate are going away anytime soon.
Four decades ago, “Environmental racism” was coined to describe how communities of color are at an increased risk of pollution-related illnesses and deaths (when compared to their white counterparts).
The most disturbing reality of climate change is that minorities are disproportionately affected.
Black Americans are 70% more likely to live within 2 miles of hazardous waste facilities compared to White Americans. Additionally, a whopping 68% of Black Americans live within 30 miles of coal-burning facilities. In fact, people of color (Hispanics and Asians included) constitute for 55% of those living near toxic sites.
