One of the most prevailing issues currently circulating the globe is climate change. As scientists and analysts predict that the world may end in a matter of years, some people have already felt the effects of global warming right at the front of their doorsteps. Yet, during these troublesome times, the government has neglected to specifically help, and instead, further jeopardize the housing situation of low-income ethnic minorities.
Understandably, citizens look towards the government for aid and security, however; those who are of low income and an ethnic minority race are met with racial disparity instead. Looking specifically at coastal New York City, the occurrence of floods and hurricanes isn’t new for its residents. However, the issue arose from the rise of housing and insurance prices due to the raging climate. As discussed by Sophie Kasakove in her article, “New York’s Invisible Climate Migrants,” an area such as Canarsie, which is a predominantly black neighborhood in Brooklyn, have been described as constantly being on the back end of climate strife’s. Since the government programs that were supposedly intended to assist its residents with recovery costs were “notoriously inadequate” (Kasakove), the residents were eventually forced to leave with limited options to relocate elsewhere. Not only were the government policies of little to no help, but the situation of the majority-black residents was also exploited by real-estate businesses to be made a profit off of. Outside of coastal regions, racially motivated governmental neglect continues to persist in the form of toxic waste sites. As stated in Francoise Vergès’ article, “Racial Capitalocene,” in a 1987 publication of Toxic Waste and Race of the United States, it was revealed that “race was the single most important factor in determining where toxic waste facilities were sited in the United States” (Vergès). Instead of being protected by the government, Black and Hispanic communities were “intentionally” made a target for the disposal of dangerous toxic wastes, which were described as byproducts of colonialism contributing to the “Man” (Vergès) influenced global warming. Racially motivated agendas such as this have unfortunately always existed in history. Within the sphere of climate change, especially, the impact the government has on the quality of life for ethnic minority communities should not be overlooked as it has and will set the precedent for the future.