so you want to educate yourself
before we begin, i'd like to note a few things about myself. i'm mexican-american and 19 years old.
i'm inherently privileged in talking about an issue that doesn't directly affect me. additionally, i want to note that i've learned from articles and videos, so there are some gaps in my knowledge. if you find something wrong in this carrd, please contact me.
@americacmal
what is environmental injustice?
(n) the disproportionate exposure of communities of color and the poor to pollution, and its concomitant effects on health and environment, as well as the unequal environmental protection and environmental quality provided through laws, regulations, governmental programs, enforcement, and policies
let me explain in simpler terms
predominantly poor communities, as well as predominantly black communities (though they often overlap), tend to suffer more from pollution. this is because the government allows "landfills, chemical waste facilities, and power plants" to exist in areas where many poor people of color live.
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what is a health disparity?
(n) a higher burden of illness, injury, disability, or mortality experienced by one group relative to another; typically refers to differences between groups in health insurance coverage, access to and use of care, and quality of care
let me explain in simpler terms
health disparities are differences in the overall health of different groups of people. in this case, we're talking about white vs. black communities. because of poverty, segregation, and pollution, among other factors, black people tend to have worse health, and consequently, live shorter lives
what is housing segregation?
(n) the practice of denying equal access to housing or available units through the process of misinformation, denial of realty and financing services, and racial steering
let me explain in simpler terms
housing segregation is rooted in a history of redlining. starting in the 1930s, lenders made maps in which they identified predominantly black communities as more likely to default on their mortgages. this meant that there were less investments made in redlined communities, and thus, predominantly black neighborhoods were left to suffer the consequences.
let's talk overpoliced neighborhoods
some people argue that more black people are arrested than white people because black people commit more crime. in reality, black communities have a heavier presence of police officers, meaning that more black people are disproportionately arrested and hurt by the police. according to the pew research center, more than 8/10 black adults say blacks are treated less fairly than whites by the police. overpolicing is one of the reasons why there are so many black people in prisons, when many of them are innocent or only guilty of nonviolent crimes.