HIST 241 Environmental Injustice
This course analyzes the historical connection between the degradation of people, e.g., communities of color, and degradation of the environment, that is the link between racism/poverty and pollution. We begin with an analysis of the conditions of enslaved Blacks and the soil in the tobacco and cotton South. In the modern period, we analyze environmental and social issues in migrant agricultural labor, as well as environmental degradation in communities of color and/or poverty. We utilize the analytical lenses of race, ethnicity, regionalism, gender and class. However, in our analysis we are very careful NOT to portray the community members or agricultural workers as simply "victims." Thus, we also focus on their diverse responses, e.g., protesting and organizing, for example, forming the United Farm Workers (UFW). Also, subtler forms of environmental injustice will be discussed, e.g., the economically privileged nature of many environmental "solutions" and campaigns.