The Gray Area with Sean Illing

The father of environmental justice

Dec 9, 2021

In a compelling discussion, Dr. Robert Bullard, a professor at Texas Southern University and co-chair of the National Black Environmental Justice Network, reflects on his decades-long fight for environmental justice. He shares insights into the historical roots of this essential movement and the landmark legal cases that protect against environmental racism. Bullard also examines the Biden administration's approach to aiding marginalized communities and emphasizes the urgency of empowering these voices through targeted investments and inclusive policies.

50:51

Episode guests

Robert Bullard

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

4min

Roots of Environmental Justice

17min

The Legacy of Cancer Alley and Environmental Justice

3min

Environmental Justice in the South

17min

Empowering Communities Through Targeted Climate Investments

5min

The Hidden Voices of Environmental Justice

4min

Vox's Jamil Smith talks with Dr, Robert Bullard, a pioneer in the crusade for environmental justice, about his more than four decades in the fight. They discuss how the movement to recognize environmental civil rights began, overcame some of its early opposition, and the landmark legal case that established a constitutional protection against racist environmental policies and practices. Bullard, a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, also discusses how the Biden administration plans to address disproportionately affected communities.

Host: Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith), Senior Correspondent, Vox

Guest: Robert Bullard (@DrBobBullard), co-chair, National Black Environmental Justice Network; professor, Texas Southern University

References:

"Another Reason We Can't Breathe" by Jamil Smith (Rolling Stone; Oct. 27, 2020)
The 17 Principles of Environmental Justice (adopted by the NBEJN on Oct. 27, 1991)
"Environmental Racism: Recognition, Litigation, and Alleviation" by Pamela Duncan (Tulane Environmental Law Journal, vol. 6, no. 2; 1993)
Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality by Robert Bullard (Routledge; 1990)
"One reason why coronavirus is hitting Black Americans the hardest" by Ranjani Chakraborty (Vox; May 22, 2020)
"There's a clear fix to helping Black communities fight pollution" by Rachel Ramirez (Vox; Feb. 26)
"The Path to Achieving Justice 40" by Shalanda Young, Brenda Mallory, and Gina McCarthy (White House; July 20)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Paul Robert Mounsey
Vox Audio Fellow: Victoria Dominguez
Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall

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