Race activists West Oakland California say rising sea levels are not their fault demand reparations
The community of West Oakland in the San Francisco Bay area faces a new environmental threat in the form of toxic waste lurking beneath the soil with residents calling for 'climate justice' in the form of reparations. The threat is in addition to existing pollution residents must deal with in what are predominantly communities of color. The stability of contaminants buried underground is a reminder of Oakland's industrial history, but the health and safety of those living nearby very much depends on it remaining in the soil. But as the waters of the San Francisco Bay rise and reach beneath these pockets of pollution, a portion of the waste will be displaced and spread with more than 130 sites at risk. The rise in groundwater is believed to be caused by human-induced climate change and the impact is already being felt in West Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area. Climate scientists warn that plumes of waste will migrate underground, exposing communities of color to contamination long before floods inundate the industrialized shoreline. 'These are environmental health issues that need to be addressed now,' said Rachel Morello-Frosch, a researcher with a project mapping the contamination in areas that are vulnerable to sea level rise at UC Berkeley. Frosch told she believes the issue is an urgent one and the impending environmental health issues need to addressed. The toxic waste and pollution in West Oakland are a result of historical racism in housing, economics and the policies of the past, activists claim. Residents did not consent to live in such conditions and are now demanding a significant role in any climate resilience plans. Margaret Gordon, a 75-year-old black woman and environmental advocate, explained the threat from underground toxins exacerbates the neighborhood's already severe environmental challenges. 'The reparation movement is the next level of civil rights,' said Gordon to NPR. 'We should not be in a position of just surviving. We should be thriving. 'There's tons of pollutants, or toxics, in the ground. You cannot put up a garden without having your soil tested,' she explained. 'It still comes down to race.' West Oakland is just one example of many communities of color disproportionately affected by climate change on a global scale. Gordon sees climate justice as a form of reparations for historically marginalized communities and believes a payment, both in financial resources and services, would go some way to repair the harm caused by decisions that allowed toxic industries to operate in the neighborhood, essentially devaluing the lives of black people. 'Let's talk about reparations,' Gordon suggests. 'We would have long-standing sustainability. I would know there's going to be housing for my children and grandchildren, so there'll be a job for them.' Reparations could bolster the local economy and improve overall health. 'The full freedom to say, "I can leave, or I can stay,"' Gordon said. 'Or, "I have the freedom, the values and the finances to make the future I want."' The situation in West Oakland is also compounded by the physical constraints imposed by three surrounding freeways, limiting the mobility and opportunities for the approximately 23,000 residents, 75 percent of whom are people of color. The median income for black West Oakland residents is about $30,000, a third of the median income that white people earn annually, according to the The neighborhood faces the strain of low wages, high housing costs, and poor health because of increased exposure to pollution. Gordon founded the to advocate for environmental justice for communities of color with West Oakland, the city is most susceptible to toxic rising groundwater. The concepts of climate justice and reparations align, according to Olufemi O. Taiwo author of the book Reconsidering Reparations, which includes a chapter on climate reparations. Taiwo argued climate change and reparations in response to historical racial injustice have common roots. Given that climate change is already affecting communities of color, the two concepts are interconnected, he believed. 'Climate change and reparations in terms of a response to the history of racial injustice have the same roots,' he explained. 'Even if you didn't buy the historical story about why reparations and climate crisis are linked, I think there is a straightforward, practical story if you want to change who faces [high] levels of death, disease and displacement,' he said. Scientists believe that current Bay area shorelines might be completely underwater by 2100 with bay waters flooding the land, and creating a layer of salty water beneath the ground. If the waterline rises by only a few inches, it could spell trouble. This upward pressure on the existing groundwater could lead to contact with contaminated soil. The rise in groundwater is a precarious situation that also poses risks in terms of infrastructure, such as sewer pipes being placed under pressure leading to cracking and breakage with the release of toxic contaminants into the surrounding environment. The industrialization of West Oakland dates back 150 years when it became an economic powerhouse sitting at the end of the transcontinental railroad. Over time, industries such as shipbuilding, metal foundries and manufacturing established themselves in the area. Later, gas stations, dry cleaners and auto yards joined the mix but racist lending policies like redlining confined black people to the neighborhood, preventing them from seeking housing elsewhere. In Oakland, where there has been redlining, is exactly where all the toxic sites are. Redlining is a discriminatory practice in which financial institutions, insurance companies and other businesses draw lines on a map to define areas where they will or will not provide services, such as mortgages, insurance or loans. The practice was most commonly used in the 20th century and was based on racial and ethnic discrimination. Redlining resulted in a lack of investment and neglect in minority neighborhoods, leading to persistent poverty and limited access to financial services and investment. Although redlining was banned in the United States by the Fair Housing Act of 1968, its legacy continues to shape urban landscapes and communities today. West Oakland experienced severe neglect due to redlining, resulting in deteriorating buildings, overcrowding and limited housing. Local and federal policies further worsened the situation by seizing land through eminent domain for freeways, public housing, and a BART station. The actions significantly impacted the historic black neighborhood.