Mothers & Others For Clean Air deeply believes that access to clean air is an inherent human right. We acknowledge that communities of color often suffer from an unequal burden of toxic pollution. We are committed to confronting the systemic environmental racism which creates health disparities in Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in the Southeast.
Environmental Racism refers to institutional rules and/or policies which target communities of color for undesirable land use or low enforcement of environmental regulations. Issues of environmental racism cause communities of color to experience environmental vulnerability and related health disparities based upon their race.
Whereas environmental racism refers to the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on people of color, environmental justice is the response of a person, organization, or movement to issues of environmental racism. It is a well documented fact that communities of color in the Southeastern United States have long suffered from lax environmental regulation.
In 2020, Mothers & Others For Clean Air published a blog series highlighting examples of environmental racism for each state in the Southeastern US. Each post includes discussion of environmental justice advisory committees in state government, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) academics conducting environmental justice research in the state, and grassroots BIPOC-led advocacy organizations.
Environmental Racism in Louisiana
Environmental Racism in Arkansas
Environmental Racism in Mississippi
