While reading “Racial Capitalocene” by Francoise Vergès, and “New York’s Invisible Climate Migrants” by Sophie Kasakoves’ articles, I realized how governments take advantage of the poor communities/minorities to develop what they want those areas to be. In other words, the government is trying to make rich people happier so that they can receive more money from them by using those resources from the poor communities.
“Growing up in a communist, anticolonial, and feminist family, I learned early that the environment had been shaped by slavery and colonialism — a reading of space that gave meaning to where cities were built, where poor people lived, and how the large sugarcane fields, rivers, mountains, volcanos, and beaches had been inscribed in the colonial and postcolonial economy” (Francoise Vergès). Slavery and colonialism are the foundation of the environment, so people are hard working will develop the area that they live in and create value out of it. Unfortunately, the government just doesn’t care about what they did, they only see the money opportunity or how much money they can make from these areas. Since the minority live there, the living condition definitely is low and probably everything just costs a low price. They just started building those chemical factories and just released the harmful gasses. Then the minorities’ health was inaccessible. Just like what the article said: “Some of his old neighbors are leaving, and they’re being replaced by those who can afford to take on the risk of living in a flood-prone area” (Sophie Kasakove). The minority houses were taken by the rich people, or house agency. Just because they see the money opportunity from it. No matter what consequences that minorities will face later on. It is not just about the race, it is about who does government is trying to get close to and satisfied their needs.
Hi Charlotte!
I agree with your claim that the government overlooks minority communities in the interest of getting money from companies. Because of low prices in certain neighborhoods, the government and corporations see a lot of capital in buying and gentrifying these areas, or using them for chemical plants. I really like how you brought the articles together and made that claim.
I really liked the quotes you pulled from the articles because they both emphasize how environmental racism is present in our world. I agree with what you said about the government using poor people to make money for rich people. It’s so sad, but still true.
You are right, you said the government is trying to make the rich richer, I would add to make most of the rich richer, because rich people are not only all white, but financially difficult Those who do face a harder situation because they are not cared for by the government.