South Central Farms

When the South Central Farmers spoke to our class about their struggle I was reminded of a class I took last year where we discussed an unfamiliar form of injustice (as least to me), environmental racism. The act of inflicting toxins on to a voiceless subordinated group of people.

Last year in my International Studies class we discussed the immensely understated occurrences of environmental racism throughout the world. We talked about the discrepancy in water quality in Chicago. The south side of Chicago had a toxic level of lead in its tap water as opposed to the wealthier, whiter north side that had safe drinkable water. We noted that this was no coincidence and perhaps it was a way to slowly get rid of the minorities. Despite the shocking level of lead in the water, the overt environmental racism was never nationally recognized. Most commercial environmental activist groups tend to be run by middle white people who do not experience the environmental injustices caused by racism. Commercial environmental groups were more focused on animals and trees, not on humans. With this fact, grassroots environmentalism has become more and more prevalent.

The South Central Farmers brought to light that there are no health food stores let alone a few grocery stores. South Central residents have very little ways to obtain healthy organic foods because the liquor stores out number the grocery stores. The young female South Central resident said we need healthy options, but we are only given essentially poisonous foods. This is exactly why the South Central Farm was so important, it finally allowed low income people to have healthy options. She also talked about how the South Central Farm taught people to think about what they are eating and stressed the importance of organic produce. Unfortunately, it is no coincidence that healthy options are not available in South Central. This is a prime example of environmental racism. It puts the South Central residents at a disadvantage in life because they are not given the same healthy choices. The South Central Farm was that healthy option for many low income people and it was taken away without much understanding of the importance of organic farming for these families. Thus, the grassroots movement began.

As the farmers voiced their concerns they caught the attention of celebrities and politicians. Although, the politicians proved to be of know help, they did grab the public's attention. The land where the farm once was is still vacant an unused, they were able to find a plot of land in Bakersfield. The grassroots movement is still going strong without the help of the Mayor and exemplifies the injustice inflicted on the subordinated. Their voices individually were silenced, but as a group they are subtly making progress as most grassroots movements do.