AZ Humanities: Frank Talks: Where Do Landfills Go?: A History of Environmental Justice
Event Details
Where Do Landfills Go A History of Environmental Justice
Where do we dump our toxic waste? Where do we bury contaminated soil? Where do
we put our industrial waste facilities? Environmental pollution, whether
dirty air or contaminated water, has disproportionately impacted communities of
color for decades. Years of governmental support for housing discrimination
through practices such as redlining created communities segregated along racial
lines. Red-lined neighborhoods then became targets for environmental
degradation. Zoning and city and state permits perpetuated environmental
racism, whether intentional or not. Now the climate crisis is compounding the
impact on communities of color–from extreme heat to increasing natural
disasters (and unequal relief responses). Join us for a timely discussion on
the history of environmental racism and the movement for environmental justice
that began in the 1970s and continues to grow today.
Please be advised that FRANK Talks are
private and may not be recorded or broadcast in any form. You understand these
conditions for participation and agree to hold harmless Arizona Humanities and
the Arizona State Library.
REGISTRATION REQUIRED. SPACE IS LIMITED
Matthew Whitaker is a
decorated educator, historian, author, social justice advocate, motivational
speaker, and founder of the ASU Center for the Study of Race and Democracy,
where he taught for 16 years. Whitaker’s expertise lies in U.S. history,
African American history, race relations, social movements, cultural
competency, equity and inclusion, teaching excellence, and community
partnerships. Whitaker has received numerous awards including the 2016 DLA
Diversity and Inclusion Award, ASU’s 2015 Pioneer Award for work on African
American life and culture, and 2014 DLA Inclusive Workplace Award. Whitaker has
spoken throughout the U.S. and abroad, and has been featured on CNN, NPR, PBS,
WVON, and KEMET. His books include Hurricane Katrina: America’s Unnatural
Disaster, Race Work: The Rise of Civil Rights in the Urban West, and his
forthcoming memoir, The Undisputed Truth: A Revolutionary Journey to Black
Manhood.
