Activity 5.2 Shingle Mountain Case Study

1. Define the problem

• Name immediate issues and define them in a way that calls for action-oriented answers.

The immediate issue involves environmental racism. Marsha Jackson and the rest of her neighbors that reside in South Dallas, were exposed to carcinogenic materials because they live in a predominately Black neighborhood. The area Jackson lives in has been exposed to "everything White citizens didn’t want in their neighborhoods: industrial rail yards, chemical plants, concrete mixing facilities, warehouses that lure up to 100 diesel trucks per day and a massive landfill" (Fears, 2020). Additionally, Jackson complained but no one did anything until 11 months later when she was invited to a meeting with an environmental group. Because Jackson is Black, her voice was ignored, and the community continued to be exposed to cancer-causing materials. 

• Put these issues into context with broader environmental justice and historical issues.

For centuries, white Americans have found ways to perpetuate their racism. Red lining and zoning forced Black Americans to live next to environmental hazards and in this case, Christopher Ganter and Cabe Chadick, placed their illegal shingle recycling business in the backyards of a predominately African American community. Due to environmental racism, "recent studies have shown that minority residents in Dallas breathe more polluted air than White residents and have a significantly shorter life expectancy" (Fears, 2020). If the illegal shingle business was placed near a predominately white community, a single complaint would have caught the attention of the local government, and the owners would face major consequences. Situations like this are not new, and minority communities have dealt with the consequences of living near environmental hazards for centuries. 

• Deal with problems from the perspective of an individual and recognize their situation.

Jackson and her neighbors are concerned for their health and the long term implications of breathing in carcinogenic particles. These materials are known to cause cancer, vomiting, and irritate the respiratory system. Jackson, 62, also stated that her 12 year old granddaughter has been breathing in the polluted air for 2 years. This is obviously concerning since the material is toxic. Jackson also explained that she wants those responsible for the illegal business to be held accountable. She states that "It’s not easy for them to just walk away and then we are still suffering through the consequences of what they did to us" (Fernandez, 2021). The long term ramifications that Jackson and her neighbors might have to endure are unknown, yet Christopher Ganter and Cabe Chadick were able to walk scot-free.

• Recognize the responsibilities and scope of those with authority.

It is imperative that the local, state, and federal government protect its citizen from harm, including environmental hazards. A persons race, country of origin, or gender, should not create any exceptions. Minority communities need environmental justice, but justice will not be served until individuals like Ganter and Chadick face criminal charges. The government must do their part in establishing environmental equity amongst minorities and their communities. Situations such as red lining created racial boundaries, and little has been done to provide these communities access to safe environmental benefits that White communities have, like parks and areas to exercise. The local, state, and federal government, must ensure that every individual can breathe clean air, drink clean water, and enjoy the outdoors, no matter their race or ethnic background.

2. Conduct an inquiry

I would like to know why the city of Dallas allowed the accumulation of toxic materials near a community, and why the issue went unnoticed. According to Dallas office of Environmental quality and sustainability, "Air Quality inspects and monitors the regulated industry to ensure compliance with, and to enforce, the federal and state regulations governing air quality in order to promote and protect the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Dallas.  We also respond to citizen complaints, addressing concerns about the air quality in the City of Dallas" ("Office of", n.d.). If the office of environmental quality claims that they monitor the air quality, then why did Jackson and her neighbors have to breathe in contaminated air for two years? Their website also says that "Ambient Air Monitoring & Surveillance operates and maintains an ambient air-monitoring network that measures the level of pollution caused by six federally designated major air contaminants" ("Office of", n.d.). This begs the question as to where the equipment that monitors the pollution is stationed. The shingle recycling company polluted the air around a majority Black neighborhood, yet this went unnoticed. Could this be because the monitoring systems are placed in predominately White communities?

It is clear that most of the permitted polluters in Dallas are located around minority communities. Joppa, the community founded by formerly enslaved people, is surrounded by multiple permitted polluters, such as Austin Asphalt, TAMKO Building Products, C-N-T Redi Mix Concrete Plant, McCommas Bluff Landfill, and the Shingle Mountain. This community is surrounded by environmental hazards, and is a precise example of environmental racism. When the owners of the illegal shingle recycling business found out about the area near Joppa, they "figured it was an ideal place to start a dump" (Fears, 2020). But why was this area so ideal? After researching the history of environmental racism, it is clear that the only "ideal" characteristic this land provided was that it is situated around predominately Black communities. 

Paul Quinn College (2020). [Image] "Poisoned by Zip Code".

Including the history and social trends of environmental racism is important, because it allows us to understand why we are still seeing these issues today. Many people might argue that permitted polluters only build in areas outside of White neighborhoods because there is more room, or less people. Observing the trends in history that show racial boundary lines and hazardous environmental situations, allows society to see these cases for what they are, environmental racism. The first step to change is acknowledging the problem, but change can not happen without observing societal trends. 

Observing economic trends is also very important. Why do permitted polluters choose to build in lower economic areas? Due to zoning and redlining, many minority communities are lower income. These communities are not given the resources for economic success, and their education systems are often underfunded, compared to white communities. Many of these permitted polluters take advantage of the fact that these communities might not know about the dangers of living next to factories, landfills, and major roads.

3. Identify and Evaluate Alternative Solutions

To start, society and our government needs to recognize environmental racism. Environmental justice and equity cannot be obtained unless people acknowledge its existence. Red lining, zoning practices, and environmental racism needs to be taught in history classes to educate individuals. Businesses that contribute to environmental racism by building near minority communities need to be addressed by the local, state, and federal government. If these businesses are caught not abiding by regulations, then they will be ordered to pay a large fine, or pay any medical costs for the people effected. 

The state, local, and federal government needs to do a better job at monitoring air and water pollution. This can be done by increasing pollution monitoring equipment around the city, especially in minority communities. Businesses should also have to provide an analysis of the amount pollution they create. If they exceed a certain standard, then they should be ordered to pay a fine. These solutions might seem extreme, but if the permitted polluters were located in White communities, they would be seen as necessary. 

4. Present Conclusions

America was built on racism, and its ugly history still effects minorities today. When slavery became outlawed and the Jim Crow era came to an end, the laws and rules changed America's structure forever. When White Americans could no longer legally be racist, they  found a way to still harm minority communities, like environmental racism. Pollution hazards created by businesses that move into minority communities shorten the lifespan of individuals that live there. Minorities are not able to live in their home comfortably, surrounded by landfills, factories, and in this case, a mountain of shingles. 

If business owners are not held accountable when they potentially expose people to a harmful pollutant, then there will never be environmental justice. For centuries, White people benefitted at the expense of minorities, and there needs to be change. Environmental racism directly effects the lives of minorities, and the government needs to take action against these practices. Fixing environmental racism is one step closer in the fight for equality. 

References

Fears, D. (2020, Nov. 16). Shingle mountain: How a pile of toxic pollution was dumped on a community of color. Washington Post.https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/16/environmental-racism-dallas-shingle-mountain/?arc404=true

Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://dallascityhall.com/departments/OEQ/Pages/air-pollution-control.aspx

[Update: Fernandez, D. (2021, Feb. 26). Dallas neighbors gather to celebrate the removal of 'Shingle Mountain.' WFAA News. https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-neighbors-gather-to-celebrate-the-removal-of-mound-of-recycled-material-shingle-mountain/287-d2bf6973-0419-4b88-89e5-fc85e3958fb9 (Links to an external site.) ]