During class Tuesday, we learned a new literary term, environmental racism, that plays in important role in the books that we have been reading this term. I especially noticed this in “Under the Feet of Jesus”. Environmental racism can be defined as the disproportionate effects of pollution, toxicity, and other environmental harms we see on racial minorities. There are many examples of this form of racism that we see in this novel, involving the main characters. The first example I thought of was the one we went over in class. This example was when Alejo and Gumecindo were stealing peaches in the orchard and the airplane went over the trees spraying pesticides. Alejo, who was up in the tree, was sprayed with the pesticides because he couldn’t make it down to run away in time. Since the airplane was flying low, it is more than likely that the pilot saw Alejo, but was not concerned for his health and sprayed anyway. This suggests the idea of environmental racism because even though it is very possible the pilot saw Alejo, he still sprayed the poison that harmed Alejo. The government was aware of the people who worked and lived around those orchards, and despite the harm that it caused to their health and offspring; they still decided that it was necessary to cover their surroundings with pesticides.
I think it is true that there is still environmental racism present in our society today. I think that a lot of it takes place in people’s workplace. Such as in “Under the Feet of Jesus”, the families of minority and immigration were forced to work in hazardous conditions because they had no other choice. In my sociology classes, we have discussed the differences of conditions in workplaces due to racism. Throughout history we have seen minorities work in factories with hazardous conditions that expose them to harmful chemicals. I think that these conditions can be considered environmental racism because the people working there are often the minority. In upper-class workplaces you would not find the same conditions. This problem is still not solved, still today we are sending many of our dangerous technology waste to places such as Africa and China were the people there now suffer for our waste. The people who live in these areas are not able to move away to a safer environment, but have to drink the water and live on the earth that is contaminated from waste.
It amazes me how large race is considered when classifying or judging people. We have developed stereotypes of certain race classes and seem to live by those (not everyone of course). Environmental racism is just another outlet for racial profiling to occur and it is too bad that it does. It would be interesting if the opportunity to declare your race on government documents and school forms was removed. Maybe the only way to remove racism is to remove the idea of race itself.
The point you brought up of the pilot possibly seeing Alejo, and if not, the government knowing of the workers in the field is a valid one. In fact, it’s a very disgusting thought that the whole ordeal could have been avoided. But it’s so true that the government does not care for the poor or for certain races. Even today there is all sorts of racism, and environmental racism is surely a valid one back when pesticides were being used carelessly. Despite the fact such pesticides were being slowly proven to be bad, it was used on fields where poor farmers worked…it’s sad to think how many perished from it.
I like how you phrased the decision by the govenrment to allow use of pesticides as ‘necessary’. They deemed it necessary to spray. That term is relative though, anyone can call a decision necessary as an excuse if they’ve got the power to make it happen. It’s necessary for who? Not necessary for Alejo that they spray, that’s for sure. But the establishment is able to mold society’s opinion of what’s necessary, which they do with little shame sometimes. Once the illusion of necessity comes into view it can be an ugly reality. I think a work like Viramontes novel does a good job of cutting through the illusion.