From 1975 to the present, African Americans have made substantial social and economic progress. But simultaneously, these visibl
e signs of improvement and progress mask deep inequities that relegate African Americans to second-class status, with fewer opportunities. Using the readings from The Future in the Present briefly, write two paragraphs identifying contemporary social problems that disproportionately impact people of color and discuss what activism (social action strategies) you consider in combatting these problems.
Environmental racism refers to the unequal access to a clean environment and basic environmental resources based on race. Communities of color are disproportionately victimized by environmental hazards and are far more likely to live in areas with heavy pollution. People of color are more likely to die of environmental causes, and more than half of the people who live close to hazardous waste are people of color. Some activists call environmental racism the new Jim Crow as it subjects communities of color to inequitable living conditions.
