The Sociological Imagination: How to Think Like a Sociologist

Environmental racism is not an inherent problem that may be resolved by merely fostering environment risk reduction measures that would limit the impact of natural calamities. Environmental racism extends after the tragedy has struck and the after-effect has significantly caused extensive damages. In several articles about environmental racism, industrialized nations were blamed for their lack of empathy amongst impoverish nations that has insufficient abilities and resources to recover from a travesty. However, this does not only occur among countries but amongst a group of people within a country distinguished by a classifying characteristic like skin color, religion or gender. Help has been withheld or denied on a community on the basis that it is predominantly of a particular class. Poverty is not the only motivating factor for environmental racism. Gender differences, racial and ethnic diversity are also a few of the reasons why environmental racism takes effect in a community. Due to this practice, the environment has to bear the impact of a natural calamity which could further create damaging results. Aid is not awarded on the merits of the need but based on affiliation and preference by the donating party. In the case of the example provided in the paper, skin color and ethnic affiliation became the motivating factor for withholding assistance on Baton Rouge despite legitimate claim. Given the fact that a community predominately inhabited by Latinos were seeking help, the national and local government refuses to take action. Their refusal to help does not only hurt the Latino community in the State of Louisiana, but it ultimately damages the environment which would significantly affect the entire country if wholly ignored. 

Keywords: environmental racism, discrimination, prejudice, hazardous waste, racism 

Sociological Imagination 

That the planet has suffered environmental damage is not in question. The extreme weather conditions that are being witnessed point to the reality of the cost. Environmental damage is an issue that should concern all. For the most part, the world has demonstrated that it is committed to reversing the damage. However, given that they are primarily responsible for the damage, the response of industrialized nations has been underwhelming and disappointing. As a result of the inadequate response from these nations, more impoverished communities and countries have borne the brunt of the damage. The suffering that these countries continue to witness underlies the concept of environmental racism. 

Background Information 

Environmental racism is a concept that captures the imbalance in the distribution of the effects of damage to the environment. It has been observed that poor communities witness the greatest suffering. For example, recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report in which it acknowledged that the African American community had suffered disproportionately (Newkirk 3). The members of this community tend to live in neighborhoods that are heavily polluted. For example, the residents of Flint in Michigan, most of who are black and poor were exposed to polluted water. The African American community is not alone in enduring disproportionate suffering. The EPA report also noted that other non-white populations had suffered immensely. Environmental racism is not confined to the United States. The United Nations determined that developing countries are more adversely affected by crises such as environmental damage compared to rich nations (United Nations 1). As environmental crises become worse, the poor and vulnerable will continue to suffer. 

Environmental Racism as a Sociological Issue 

The question of environmental racism can be viewed through different lenses. The sociological perspective is among these lenses. What makes the problem of environmental racism a sociological issue is the fact that it relates to how human society is structured and functions. As noted above, the poor have seen the most adverse effects of environmental damage. Being poor, they are unable to advocate for environmental conservation and access to ecological resources. Essentially, environmental racism captures the interplay of power politics, race, and poverty. These are issues that form the core of sociological inquiries. 

Another problem that justifies regarding environmental racism through the lens of sociology is that it reflects the interactions of different global communities. Despite being responsible for a small amount of environmental damage, developing countries have suffered the most. Their suffering highlights how the actions of industrialized nations have immense impacts on their poorer counterparts. 

Research Question 

Environmental racism will be the focus of a research project that will be conducted. This project will be guided by the following research question: How does environmental racism manifest in the world today?” By answering this question, the research will seek to identify the negative impacts that environmental racism has on the poor and the vulnerable. Moreover, the problem is intended to elevate environmental racism from a theoretical concept to a real issue with real impacts on the lives of millions. 

Literature and Data 

Environmental racism refers to an environmental injustice that takes place in practices and policies that lies within a radicalized context (Park, Pg 664). From various studies, 

environmental racism manifests in multiple ways in the modern world. Most disappointing, it is associated with several adverse effects on both weak and vulnerable individuals. The study analyzes how the two external articles relate to the specific research question on how environmental manifests in the modern world and the impacts it has to less fortunate in the community. 

How Environmental Racism Manifest In the World Today 

1. Hazardous Movement of Wastes from One Country to Another 

Over the past few months, it is evident that there is an increased movement of harmful waste materials from the already developed countries to countries that are in the process of developing. The reason beyond such practices is due to the scarcity of disposal facilities, harsh environment rules, and high public opposition towards hazardous waste dumping that causes high disposal costs (Park, Pg 667). Therefore, for the developed countries to evade disposal costs, they move their wastes to underdeveloped and developing countries. 

2. Poor Political Power 

Currently, the third world countries are classified as sick and weak regarding political matters. Therefore, they lack enough environmental negotiations since they have little to say about environmental protections in their countries (Park, Pg 676). In most cases, their concerns and grievances about environmental protection are ignored by the developed countries. More so, the weak members of society have low educational levels and resources to oppose the establishment of waste sites in their regions. 

Negative Impacts That Environmental Racism Has On the Poor and the Vulnerable 

Environmental racism is associated with various adverse effects on poor and vulnerable people. For example, weak and vulnerable people are most disproportionately exposed to environmental pollutions which threaten their health. Poor people are known to have the 

highest risks of cancers due to massive exposure of environmental contaminants (Massey, Pg 

2). Also, environmental racism causes asthma, neurobehavioral infections as well as learning disabilities to poor and vulnerable people. 

Furthermore, environmental racism contributes to increasing numbers of low-income family relocations. Evidence asserts that in areas where poor and vulnerable people live, the levels of chemical leaching to water sources are incredibly high (Massey, Pg 5). The sites which are affected by hazardous waste dumping are unhealthy for them to stay since they pose many health risks to their lives. As a result, people are forced to shift to areas where their health is 

guaranteed. 

Methodology 

The best method to answer the research question under discussion is the qualitative method. The technique allows researchers to perceive how environmental racism affects the lives of poor and vulnerable people and not those that are rich and advantaged. The process provides for a non-random sampling procedure to achieve a combination of features required for the study. Most specifically, the purpose of sampling is to get close enough to community members to have them share their ideas concerning environmental racism. The process requires the creation of an exhaustive list showing the impacts of environmental racism on poor people and how it manifests in the modern world. Random community members are selected regardless of whether they are victims of environmental racism. In other words, the sample is taken by visiting local community members who are the exact victims of environmental racism. By establishing better relations and trust with the poor and vulnerable individuals who are affected by environmental racism, it is easier to understand how such an act has influenced their lives. Again, collecting both non-verbal and verbal accounts gives an accurate picture of how environmental racism affects the health and living conditions of poor and vulnerable people. 

Hole of Shortcomings in Prior Studies and its Remedy. 

Failure to account for the changing nature of the housing market is the central hole of the shortcoming in prior studies of the case above. By analyzing various data, it is true that economic factors are behind many speculations concerning the rise of environmental racism. The remedy for such shortcoming involves developing public policies that observe the commercial nature of the issue. More specific, there is a need to establish a system that compensates poor and vulnerable people that lives in industrial sites as a critical measure to achieve environmental justice. 

References 

Newkirk, Vann R. “Trump’s EPA concludes environmental racism is real.” The Atlantic. 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/the-trump-administration-finds-that-environmental-racism-is-real/554315/ 

United Nations. “World’s poor bearing the brunt of global crises, stresses UN rights expert”. 2017. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2017/09/worlds-poor-bearing-the-brunt-of-global-crises-stresses-un-rights-expert/