Juneteenth is a day symbolizing the end of slavery in America, but it is also about the ongoing fight for black equity. As we commemorate Juneteenth, it is imperative for us all to address the persistent environmental injustices that disproportionately affect Black communities across the United States.

After nearly 340 years of slavery and 90 years of legally sanctioned segregation, Black families and communities continue to face the enduring legacies of systemic racism, which manifests in environmental injustice, economic inequality, and health disparities.

Here’s the Proof

More than half of the people who live close to hazardous waste in America are people of color,

and they are more likely to die of environmental hazards, like exposure to polluted air, drinking contaminated water over a sustained period of time, or living next to toxic landfills and industrial facilities. Communities of color have routinely been treated as nothing short of sacrifice zones, where the health and well-being of residents are deemed expendable in the name of industrial development, fossil fuel infrastructure, and economic gain.

The stretch between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in Louisiana is infamously known as

“Cancer Alley” as it is home to over 200 petrochemical facilities, which pollute the local air, land, and water supply with toxins. Predominantly Black communities in the area face heightened cancer risks, birth defects and respiratory illnesses. Some regions experience cancer rates up to 50 times the national average.

A Historical Snapshot of Environmental Injustice in the United States

In 1982, Warren County, North Carolina became the focal point for environmental justice activism when plans emerged to locate a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) landfill in the predominantly Black community of Afton. Despite protests, the landfill was constructed. Still, the movement galvanized national attention to the all too real issue of environmental racism.

“Asthma Alley” in the South Bronx of New York City is characterized by a high concentration of Black and Latino residents who endure some of the country’s worst air quality. Heavy traffic, with nearly 15,000 trucks commuting through the Bronx every day, and industrial activities contribute to the pollution.o

In certain neighborhoods, 20% of children have asthma. In fact, asthma hospitalization rates among children here are more than five times the national average and 21 times more than in other NYC neighborhoods.

In 2014, Flint, Michigan, switched its water source to the Flint River to save money. However, the city did this without implementing adequate corrosion control measures or properly testing the water. This oversight saw lead leaching from aging pipes directly into an already contaminated water supply, exposing the majority of Black residents to elevated lead levels.

Lead exposure is associated with severe health issues, including cognitive impairments in children and kidney problems in adults. By the 2019-2020 school year, Flint’s special education enrollment rose to 28%, surpassing the national average of 15%. Despite national attention, Flint’s water infrastructure challenges persist to this day.

Cheraw, South Carolina’s predominantly Black community, faced serious health risks due to polychlorinated biphenyl, from a former manufacturing plant. Burlington Industries disposed of PCBs in a creek behind the plant as recently as the 1970s. Hurricane Florence in 2018 exacerbated the issue, spreading toxins into homes and public spaces like playgrounds. The EPA has undertaken cleanup efforts that may be ongoing for the foreseeable future, but this incident underscores how vulnerable marginalized communities are hurt first by industrial chemical pollution that is then exacerbated by the impacts of climate change and extreme weather.

One of the oldest most neglected water systems in America is in Jackson, Mississippi. The aging infrastructure has led to an ongoing water crisis that disproportionately affects the city’s predominantly Black population.

In 2022, the crisis escalated when days of heavy rainfall overwhelmed the main water treatment plant, causing it to almost crumble. As a result, thousands of residents were left without running water for days. Long lines formed across the city as people struggled to access bottled water, food, and basic sanitation. Today, many Jackson residents still face intermittent water outages and are often required to boil their water to ensure it is safe to use.

In 2008, a catastrophic failure at the Kingston Fossil Plant in Tennessee released over a billion gallons of coal ash slurry into 300 acres of surrounding community. Over 4 million cubic yards of the toxic waste were transported to a landfill 300 miles away in the predominantly Black community of Uniontown, Alabama. Many of the people who helped clean up the spill in Tennessee later suffered from lung cancer, leukemia, and brain cancer. Residents of Uniontown in Alabama have since reported health issues linked to the ash shipped into their community, including respiratory problems and cancer. However, the ash is classified as non-hazardous under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, so the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was not obligated to protect the town’s residents from exposure to it.

East Chicago, Indiana, residents, primarily from underrepresented communities, face significant health risks such as cancer due to industrial pollution from nearby steel factories. The EPA has identified facilities that disposed of the most harmful chemicals in their surrounding environment in a 2019 report, which means it is probably not surprising that Indiana ranked first for having the most pollution released per square mile in the Midwest. The cities of East Chicago and Gary were the most polluted.

In the Black and Latino community of Pahokee, Florida, the process of pre-harvest sugarcane burning releases ash known locally as “black snow”. This particulate matter poses significant health risks, including respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and increased cancer risk. Residents have long advocated for cleaner harvesting methods to protect their health and the environment. However, the economic benefits of placing the sugarcane facilities in these areas have been prioritized over their health.

What Do We Do?

The solution is to invite the same people and the same communities dealing with these increased pollution risks for ideas on solutions, on what needs to change. When they are included in these critically important conversations, the solutions are more real, more creative, and more fair.

Because this systemic pattern of inflicting pollution on Black communities is not coincidental; it’s the result of decades of discriminatory decision-making. To address environmental injustice, ensure that all communities, especially those overburdened by pollution, receive equal protection and enforcement of environmental laws. This involves strengthening regulations and ensuring they are applied equitably. We also need to amplify the voices of frontline communities and ensure they have meaningful power in shaping policies that affect their lives. Finally, true justice means investing in clean air, safe water, and healthy housing for all, not just the privileged few.

To take action against plastic pollution, visit our End Plastics campaign page, where you can sign the Global Plastics Treaty, write a letter to your representative demanding stronger federal policies against plastic pollution, or find a cleanup near you.

For more information, read more about the impacts of plastic in our factsheets and reports.