Laura Pulido is seeking to fight for the fate of the Flint state, which is highly exposed to environmental racism and racial capitalism. She specifically unpacks various issues that expose the people of Flint to danger, unveils the actual situation of the state, the cause of the detrimental situation, and what measures should be undertaken to save the situation.
Laura Pulido points out that the current poisoning of Flint is a clear example of environmental racism and racial capitalism. Notably, the case of Flint is demoralizing because its state is not caused by any natural disaster or a reckless emitter. Instead, the environmental pollution witnessed is a typical injustice caused by the actions of the local state acting by neoliberalism. The primary cause of poisoning in Flint is the austerity measures imposed by the municipal emergency fiscal manager.
She further argues that the people of Flint are highly devalued because of their color and their status. As a result, the city officials have abandoned it, and people barely receive any services from the government. The place is characterized by shrinking services in terms of democratic practices and infrastructure investment. These treatments are attributed to devaluing the people of Flint and looking at them as people who are incapable of contributing anything to the economy.
From the situation analysis, Laura Pulido says the officials are aware of their actions, but they should think of the potential consequences of these actions. Apart from being devalued and lacking essential services, the flint water supply is highly poisoned. The poisoning of their water supply is similar to any other assault on people who are black face. Although Flint used the Detroit River for its water supply, state officials terminated their contract, and they had to look for another source. They didn’t use the Flint River because GM’s longstanding industrial activities have historically polluted the river, resulting in poisoning that human beings can’t tolerate. When the GM’s factory needed water, they opted for flint water but later disregarded it as hazardous and corrosive to machines.
Overall, these actions present enormous cases of environmental racism and dangerously reveal racial capitalism to the highest degree. It brings out the people of Flint as being treated as underground people, outcast surplus, and a threatened community. The author uncovers the deep-rooted nature and the typical functioning of environmental racism and racial capitalism in contemporary society. Furthermore, the journal article provides sound recommendations that can help mitigate such social evils. The officials should recognize the deeply racialized capitalism and think of the consequences of their options.
The decision to require the people of Flint to continue using the Flint River despite the evidence that it was hazardous for human consumption is utterly inhuman. The state officials’ lied to have put anti-corrosive measures in place when they have done nothing. It shows how the state official is willing to put fiscal sovereignty at the forefront while disregarding people’s lives. Despite efforts and various residents’ attempts to complain about the state of their water for consumption, the official circumvented the evidence through deceit and lies.
From the investigations made on flint water, it was dangerous for the machines; what about human beings? The officials turned to the Detroit River and denied the residents source of water. After various complaints and people’s attempts to complain about the Flint river not being a safe source of water, the city responds by saying they have put anti-corrosive measures into place. Therefore, the residents can continue using water. As such, the officials should have acknowledged that these issues are existing and should be aware of their actions. All the problems in Flint are clear evidence of environmental racism and racial capitalism for devaluing people because of their color and status.