There’s Something in the Water

Comprehension

Before engaging in a critical analysis of environmental racism as outlined by Waldron, we must first make sure we understand what he is saying. Take the following questions and answer them in your own words. When doing so, try to limit the number of sentences you use and aim to explain these concepts succinctly. To double-check your work, or if you are truly stuck, you may visit the summary sections that address the question.

1. In your own words, what is environmental racism and environmental justice, and how is it different from other mainstream environmental activism?

2. In what ways do past and present colonial practices (both colonialism and settler colonialism) shape environmental racism? 

3. What are the four pillars of critical environmental justice (CEJ) studies, and how might they be used as a framework for other justice movements?

4. What is the “racialization of space,” and how does it manifest in the form of environmental racism? 

5. What are some of the psychological, physical, & spiritual health effects of living near toxic waste, and how do they intersect to complicate already existing inequalities?

6. How is decolonization both an event and a process? How can we leverage that knowledge in discussions on environmental justice?

7. What are the strategies Waldron suggests for addressing environmental racism? How might those strategies be applied in one of the case studies outlined in the guide?

8. What role does white privilege play in environmental racism?

Test your vocabulary using this Quizlet below!