HEALTHY SCHOOLS: A MAJOR FRONT IN THE FIGHT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE

摘要

Systemic housing discrimination has resulted in the creation of predominately African American communities located in the most environmentally toxic locations. Many African American communities are in areas zoned for mixed residential/industrial/commercial use, while predominately white communities tend to be zoned strictly for residential use. The result is that African Americans live in neighborhoods surrounded by pollution-creating industries, In the middle of these neighborhoods are schools. Kindergarten through twelfth grade aged children spend approximately 80% of their time in school. Unfortunately, if their schools are near roads, facilities, or other polluting activities, these students will be exposed to a whole range of contaminants. Vermin, mold, pesticides, lead, and asbestos within school facilities are additional dangers to which many low-income and minority students are exposed. Furthermore, numerous schools are located on contaminated land.