When I first saw the term “environmental racism,” I kind of chuckled a little. When seen without any context, the term seems unfamiliar, bizarre, and tough to take seriously. After spending time with this weeks readings, however, it has become shockingly clear that environmental racism is not only a horrifying threat to lower income communities and people of color, but also one which is still disturbingly prevalent. It is horrifying to think that a person could be placed in such a hazardous area as the communities devastated by Hurricane Katrina simply based on skin color. What’s worse is the continued mistreatment and harassment that these communities face in their post-Katrina lives. One would have imagined that the disaster would have been an eye-opening event which would prompt change and progress, but the populations affected by the tragedy are still facing equally tragic living conditions under constant surveillance and abuse by police forces.

More upsetting than the lack of change brought on by Hurricane Katrina is the lack of awareness brought on by Hurricane Katrina. It seems now like it should have been impossible to discuss the events leading up to and following the disaster without mentioning the prevalence of environmental racism, but it’s still just as unfamiliar a term as ever.