Chapter 1
U.S. history shows repeated seizure of land, control of resources, and placing marginalized people in harm’s way. From Indigenous removals to Puerto Rico’s colonization and siting polluting industries and military uses near communities of color, environmental injustice is tied to political and economic power. It concerns not just pollution but land, sovereignty, race, and communities’ right to self‑determination. Knowing this history explains why cross‑community solidarity is vital to contesting environmental injustice.
FAQs
How are race and class connected to environmental injustice?
1
Race and class can influence where people live, the resources available to their communities, and how much political power they have. Communities of color and working-class communities have historically faced greater exposure to pollution and environmental hazards while having fewer resources to challenge them.
How does gender intersect with environmental injustice?
2
Environmental problems can affect people differently based on gender, especially when women are responsible for caregiving, household health, or community organizing. Women from marginalized and working-class communities have often played important leadership roles in fighting environmental threats.
How can age and disability affect environmental vulnerability?
3
Children, elders, and people with disabilities can experience environmental hazards differently because of differences in health, mobility, and access to resources. Environmental justice means considering these differences when creating policies and designing communities.
How does colonialism connect to land and environmental justice?
4
Colonialism has often involved taking land, controlling natural resources, and limiting the ability of communities to make decisions about their own environment. Indigenous, Black, and colonized communities have experienced environmental harm alongside struggles for land, sovereignty, and self-determination