Environmental Racism A Reading of Zora Neale Hurstons and Richard Wrights Selected Fiction

Abstract

Environmental Racism is a complex and multifaceted concept that arises at the newlineintersection of environmental issues and racial injustice, and is generally used newlineinterchangeably with the phrase Environmental Injustice. In the context of newlineEnvironmental Racism, the term environment refers to the natural surroundings or newlinephysical spaces in which individuals and communities live, work, and interact. It newlineencompasses various elements, both natural and built, that can influence the well-being newlineand quality of life of the people inhabiting those spaces. The emergence of newlineEnvironmental Racism in the American context stemmed from the marginalization of newlinethe people of color, especially the Black community. This study exclusively centres on newlineexamining the relationship between African Americans and the risks associated with newlineEnvironmental Racism. Blacks faced exclusion not only in the realms of politics, newlinereligion, literature, education, and economics but also in their interaction with the newlineenvironment in the US. This disproportionate treatment led to a situation where nonwhite populations were more vulnerable to exposure to environmental hazards, newlinepollution, the establishment of toxic and waste industries in their areas, residential newlinesegregation, etc. This phenomenon is deeply rooted in historical patterns of newlinediscrimination and systemic racism, which have perpetuated social, economic, and newlinepolitical inequalities over time. The following four books have been explored to gain newlineinsight into the theory of Environmental Racism and its various expressions within the newlineAmerican society: Robert Bullard s Dumping in Dixie, Luke Cole and Sheila Foster s newlineFrom the Ground Up, Dorceta Taylor s Toxic Communities and Carl Zimring s Clean newlineand White... newline