The Fight for “Quality of Life”: Confronting Environmental Racism in Southeast Queens, NY
Southeast Queens, a majority Black region of New York City, has a disproportionate concentration of environmental hazards, including industrial pollution, sewage back-ups, aviation noise, and illegal dumping. Anthropologist Natalie Vena will investigate how Southeast Queens residents appeal to their government officials to mitigate environmental hazards and how government officials respond to their demands for environmental protection. She will conduct interviews and participant observation for her study.