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Environmental Justice

Race and Equity

"Environmental racism refers to the deliberate placement of toxic and hazardous waste sites, incinerators, landfills, and polluting industries in communities populated mainly by minorities, including Latinos, African Americans, Asians, migrant farm workers, and the working poor. It also includes “any government, institutional, or industry action, or failure to act, that has a negative environmental impact which disproportionately harms—whether intentionally or unintentionally—individuals, groups, or communities based on race or color.” (Race and Racism in the United States: An Encyclopedia of the American Mosaic)

Suggested search terms

In addition to the terms "environmental justice," "environmental racism," and others, also search for:

  • specific groups (African Americans, Latinos, or Native Americans, for example),
  • places (the South, Chicago, etc.), and/or
  • specific environmental issues, such as water or air pollution, health impacts, toxics, etc. 

Selected books