Environmental Injustice's Role In The Civil Rights Movement

Environmental injustice exists when members of a certain group suffer disproportionately from environmental risks, hazards, or violations of fundamental human rights (Carder). These injustices are usually caused by unfair government/court decisions, being denied access to information and denied participation in a decision-making process (Carder). Hierarchies of power also play a major role in the way that they tolerate, propagate, and perpetuate injustice against a large number of disadvantaged people. These hierarchies exist in all socio-cultural contexts (Carder). Low income and minority communities usually bear greater health and environmental burdens, increased noise and traffic, and threats to public safety while the remaining portion of society receives the bulk of the benefits (Bullard). These communities are often victims of poverty, political disenfranchisement, structural disempowerment, and prejudice (Shackelford).
Therefore, it is very important that communities and individuals acknowledge their various privileges, particularly those based on race and income (Shackelford). Justice for marginalized groups involves restoring autonomy and order (Shackelford). Environmental justice seeks the right to ethical, balanced and responsible use of land and renewable resources, affirms the people’s right to political, economic, cultural and environmental self-determination, demands the right to participate as equal partners at every level of the decision-making process, and confirms the right of all workers to a safe and healthy work setting that is free on environmental hazards