https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib Focus: Michigan's Major Cities & Minority Groups en-us 2022-04-15 00:53:32 UTC 2026-02-06 17:23:28 UTC hello@padlet.com herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147745058 Some statistics regarding environmental racism and the people that are affected by climate justice

- "A report titled “Toxic Waste and Race at Twenty” reviewed data collected over a 20-year time period and found that more than half of the people who live within 1.86 miles of toxic waste facilities in the United States are people of color" (Environmental Justice, n.d.).
- "A study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention determined that 11.2% of African American children and 4% of Mexican-American children are poisoned by lead, compared with 2.3% of white children"(Environmental Justice, n.d.).
- "Three out of five African Americans live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites"(Environmental Justice, n.d.). 

]]> 2022-04-19 00:48:20 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147745058 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147749726 More fast facts on environmental racism and how Black people experience more pollution, food inequality, and health risks in their neighborhoods.]]> 2022-04-19 00:52:07 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147749726 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147755228 A brief, 3 minute explanation as to how Environmental Justice came to be. This history remains consistent regardless of what city it is, so they speak a bit on other cities but make a point to focus on minority communities which are the ones mostly being effected in Detroit. I felt that this video made a lot of good, important points.]]> 2022-04-19 00:56:30 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147755228 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147757121 A quick explanation as to what environmental justice is, and who it has effected.

Because minority groups are mostly who make up these large cities where industrialization is taking place, they are the ones facing the long lasting effects of pollution in both their air and water sources, and no action is being taken by the government.]]> 2022-04-19 00:58:06 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147757121 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147803230 Environmental justice had only become majorly talked about as a result of the Flint water crisis, which effected a large number of the Black community due to exposure to lead in their drinking water. Benton Harbor's population is 85% Black, and given the data, they are also the poorest city in Michigan, and have also been having water issues. This would not be happening within a predominately White community, and if it were, I can say with confidence that it would be an issue that would get fixed quickly. Environmental injustice is a form of oppression, and is largely built on racism.]]> 2022-04-19 01:35:25 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2147803230 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149233952 A short film that follows Thomasenia Weston and her family, residents of Detroit Michigan who have been struggling with the health effects of air pollution.

Detroit, more specifically the southwest side of the city, is the most polluted city in Michigan. Because of the air pollution caused by factories & trucks, most of these residents contract asthma and other health effects, as seen with the three generations of Thomasenia's family. Because of the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge that is now expected to be completed in late 2024, Thomasenia and many others worry about the increased traffic of trucks coming into the city and polluting even further. Thomasenia lives only two blocks from the construction site, and yet she is not eligible for a housing swap, air filtration, or updated windows. She and her family are not the only ones being effected by this, as this has been a long-lasting struggle for the people of Detroit, and many other major cities.]]> 2022-04-19 20:26:06 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149233952 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149244413 A quick story on how peaceful protestors crashed a morning news conference to spread their message.]]> 2022-04-19 20:35:34 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149244413 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149250381 Something that helps tremendously is donating/volunteering, and educating yourself on environmental racism that may be happening in your own city. I have provided a link to the Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice where they offer volunteer work and donation links.]]> 2022-04-19 20:41:09 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149250381 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149252827 I personally see social work as a profession that advocates for the voiceless. It was stated on the NASW website that they have a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, which I feel relates closely to the issue of Environmental Injustice. The main goal of the social work profession is to help facilitate the well-being of the members of society, as well as meeting the basic needs of ALL people. Especially those who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.]]> 2022-04-19 20:43:41 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149252827 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149257633 As Mariann Bischoff stated in this brief interview, the job of the social worker in this case would be to facilitate unity and teamwork amongst different groups. A social worker must be able to connect with people of all backgrounds, especially those who have been effected by environmental injustice, and be able to organize things to benefit the community as a whole. Practitioners must be empathetic with those who have been effected very negatively, whether it be by their health or their mental well-being, it is important to understand what their clients have been through and what steps to take in order to facilitate change for these communities.]]> 2022-04-19 20:48:14 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149257633 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149260303 Vince Martin, a resident of Detroit and an environmental activists, shares his story and his experience with living in the city.]]> 2022-04-19 20:50:38 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149260303 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149575297 Redlining and discriminatory housing policies have been contributors in minority groups falling into disinvestment and concentrated poverty. Also, years of systemic racism in housing policy and having to deal with the increased industrialization of their cities, high amounts of pollution in communities has become more common.]]> 2022-04-20 01:58:33 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149575297 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149610562 The biggest strength that Detroiters have is the fact that they've gotten political attention, which is bound to bring more awareness to their situation. "Gov Gretchen Whitmer's appointments to the MSPC are more amenable to residents and clean energy policies than past pro-industry commissioners" (Perkins, 2020). Another strength would be that through their efforts and complaints, residents of Detroit were able to prevent Southwest Detroit's Marathon Refinery from storing toxic pet coke outdoors, and the city passed an ordinance in 2017 that it must be stored indoors. Resistance and coming together as a community seems to be their biggest strength as well.]]> 2022-04-20 02:26:15 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149610562 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149628470 I found it difficult to find a thorough explanation of Detroit's history of environmental racism, however, I believe that this gives a clear explanation of how these issues came to be in major cities.

However, some of the key takeaways include the following:
- February 11, 1968 was the Memphis Sanitation Strike, and this was the first time that African Americans began opposing environmental injustices.
- NECAG was formed in 1979 to oppose construction of a landfill. The lawsuit was called Bean v. Southwestern Waste Management Corp, and although it failed, it still sent a clear message to the world about raised public concern for environmental justice.
- April 1983: Dr. Robert Bullard found that African American Neighborhoods were usually chosen for toxic waste sites. "75% of privately owned landfills were cited in Black neighborhoods, although African Americans made up only 25% of the city's population" (Environmental Justice Timeline, n.d.).]]> 2022-04-20 02:40:26 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2149628470 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2150522665 2022-04-20 15:14:35 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2150522665 herberav https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2151072261 2022-04-20 22:31:37 UTC https://padlet.com/herberav/1hgzjhgxaktqtaib/wish/2151072261