The Wrong Complexion for Protection
How the Government Response to Disaster Endangers African American Communities
Published on 23. July 2012
277 pages
978-0-8147-7193-8 (ISBN)
Description
Uncovers the ways the United States government responds to natural and human-induced disasters in relation to race over the past eight decades
When the images of desperate, hungry, thirsty, sick, mostly black people circulated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it became apparent to the whole country that race did indeed matter when it came to government assistance. In The Wrong Complexion for Protection, Robert D. Bullard and Beverly Wright place the government response to natural and human-induced disasters in historical context over the past eight decades. They compare and contrast how the government responded to emergencies, including environmental and public health emergencies, toxic contamination, industrial accidents, bioterrorism threats and show that African Americans are disproportionately affected. Bullard and Wright argue that uncovering and eliminating disparate disaster response can mean the difference between life and death for those most vulnerable in disastrous times.
When the images of desperate, hungry, thirsty, sick, mostly black people circulated in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it became apparent to the whole country that race did indeed matter when it came to government assistance. In The Wrong Complexion for Protection, Robert D. Bullard and Beverly Wright place the government response to natural and human-induced disasters in historical context over the past eight decades. They compare and contrast how the government responded to emergencies, including environmental and public health emergencies, toxic contamination, industrial accidents, bioterrorism threats and show that African Americans are disproportionately affected. Bullard and Wright argue that uncovering and eliminating disparate disaster response can mean the difference between life and death for those most vulnerable in disastrous times.
Reviews / Votes
"A fine overview for those interested in the subject matter. Summing Up: Highly recommended." (Choice) "The Wrong Complexion for Protectionis an intellectual version of a 'greatest hits' album, combining autobiography and research findings to give a picture of the authors' important contributions to the field of environmental justice, and a picture of what environmental justice has contributed to political science and other fields." - Patrick S. Roberts (Political Science Quarterly) "A fascinating insiders account from the frontlines of the struggle to get the government to act fairly in the face of environmental injustice, with vast implications for future disasters." - Timmons Roberts,co-author of A Climate of Injustice "The brutal realities of institutional racism in disaster readiness, response, and recovery are unveiled here in black and white, through compelling case studies, jaw-dropping statistics, and thoroughly documented sociological and historical data." - David Naguib Pellow,co-author of The Slums of Aspen: Immigrants vs. the Environment in America's EdenMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-0-8147-7193-8 (9780814771938)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Robert D. Bullard | Beverly Wright
The Wrong Complexion for Protection
How the Government Response to Disaster Endangers African American Communities
Book
07/2012
New York University Press
€106.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Persons
Robert D. Bullard (Author)
Robert D. Bullard is Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University and Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice. He is former Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and author and co-author of several books including Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class and Environmental Quality and Environmental Health and Racial Equity in the United States: Strategies for Building Just, Sustainable and Livable Communities.
Beverly Wright (Author)
Beverly Wright is Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. She is the co-author of Race, Place, and Environmental Justice after Hurricane Katrina: Struggles to Reclaim, Rebuild, and Revitalize New Orleans.
Robert D. Bullard is Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy at Texas Southern University and Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice. He is former Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs and author and co-author of several books including Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class and Environmental Quality and Environmental Health and Racial Equity in the United States: Strategies for Building Just, Sustainable and Livable Communities.
Beverly Wright (Author)
Beverly Wright is Founder and Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice. She is the co-author of Race, Place, and Environmental Justice after Hurricane Katrina: Struggles to Reclaim, Rebuild, and Revitalize New Orleans.
Content
Acknowledgments List of Acronyms and Abbreviations Preface Introduction: Anatomy of Vulnerability 1. Race, Place, and the Environment in a Small Southern Town: A Personal Perspective from Robert D. Bullard 2. Growing Up in a City That Care Forgot, New Orleans: A Personal Perspective from Beverly Wright 3. The Legacy of Bias: Hurricanes, Droughts, and Floods 4. Recovery and Reconstruction in Post-Katrina New Orleans: A Time for Healing and Renewal 5. The Wrong Complexion for Protection: Response to Toxic Contamination 6. Nightmare on Eno Road: Poisoned Water and Toxic Racism in Dickson, Tennessee 7. Living and Dying on the Fenceline: Response to Industrial Accidents 8. Separate and Unequal Treatment: Responseto Health Emergencies, Human Experiments, and Bioterrorism Threats: 9. Critical Conditions: Fixing a Broken System Notes References Index About the Authors
