Consider This from NPR In Jackson, Mississippi, A Water Crisis Decades In The Making
Sep 7, 2022
Michael Regan, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, delves into the ongoing water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi. He discusses the dire situation where residents lack access to safe drinking water due to decades of infrastructural neglect. Regan highlights urgent calls for investment and collaboration to address systemic racial inequalities impacting water access. He also talks about the EPA's commitment, including allocating $30 million for critical infrastructure upgrades, emphasizing that swift action is needed to restore clean water to the community.
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Bird Baths and Eating Out
- Jackson, Mississippi resident Malachi Richardson and his mom Candy Bolden had to bathe using a "bird bath" due to unreliable water.
- Boil water notices made cooking and cleaning difficult, forcing them to eat out more often than they could afford.
A Way of Life
- Halima Olufemi, a Jackson resident, recalls growing up with constant boil water notices.
- Her family bought extra water jugs, highlighting how boiling water was a way of life.
Racial and Political Dynamics
- Olufemi connects Jackson's water issues to racial history and political dynamics.
- She believes the majority-Black city doesn't receive adequate support from the state's white Republican leadership.