The Assessment of Environmental Justice and Racism in Memphis, Tennessee

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and adequate involvement of all citizens regardless of race, nationality, or income in the creation, implementation, and enforcement of environmental policy. This study examines... [ view full abstract ]

Environmental justice is the fair treatment and adequate involvement of all citizens regardless of race, nationality, or income in the creation, implementation, and enforcement of environmental policy. This study examines Memphis, Tennessee, as a case of environmental injustice by studying the location of low-income, African American communities, and assessing the distribution of environmental harms in the city. Memphis was chosen as the topic of study due to its unique connection to environmental racism and the Civil Rights movement. Furthermore, Memphis is a major industrial city and has a prominent African American population, at 64 percent. Although literature that examines environmental injustice through an analysis of case studies is ubiquitous, there is a need for literature that takes a deeper look into the institutional factors that have allowed these injustices to occur. Thus, this study provides a holistic look into the historical records, land use patterns, and government policies that have permitted an unequal distribution of environmental harms. I hope to connect the environmental injustices occurring in Memphis with the institutional structures that have produced them. Additionally, this study examines the political and institutional representation of the city’s residents to understand if those most affected by these injustices have adequate power to change their environmental circumstances.