Drowning is often a silent act. When somebody begins to drown, they don’t scream, or flail their arms, or call for help. Instead, preoccupied by the mere effort of taking another breath, they often appear paralyzed and unable to take action. In more ways than one, the frontline communities along Cancer Alley are drowning. Drowning in the rising waters, drowning in pollution—drowning in things to drown in. They are tired, and time is running out. They need a helping hand.
But how can meaningful change be pushed forward in time? After speaking to several local NGOs and community members, the path forward seems clear. In all my conversations, one word was brought up time and time again—education. Education, education, education. The best way to help these communities is to empower them with the knowledge they need to fight for themselves. This could be empirical data that lends weight to their arguments, or legal know-how regarding lawsuits against offending corporations, or testimonies and stories from other communities facing similar problems. This is a clear contrast to the current model of change, in which powerful outsiders impose their ideas and “solutions” on the frontline communities, breaking local trust and often exacerbating the root causes of the problems.
Providing education and training to frontline communities is practical, and yields powerful results. For proof, one only needs to look at the work of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (DSCEJ). The DSCEJ has heavily involved itself in the issues plaguing the southern Louisiana region and have focused on education as a tool for change. Mary I. Williams, Assistant Director of Community & Student Engagement at the DSCEJ, attributes much of their success to their “communiversity” model, in which the work of local universities and colleges is shared with members of frontline communities. Through this system, the DSCEJ hosts HBCU climate conferences throughout the region, sponsors worker-training programs in environmental protection fields, and provides legal help to communities drafting lawsuits against offending corporations. In addition, the DSCEJ brings together community leaders from around the region on its advisory board, which provides a powerful platform for information sharing and outreach. Through all of these measures, the DSCEJ has been able to empower frontline communities to fight for their idea of justice.
Other organizations in the region should take a closer look at the work of the DSCEJ to shape their approach to change. Reach out to schools, local organizations, churches, even restaurants. In one interview, a local resident emphasized the powerful, unexplainable bonds that link the communities along Cancer Alley. Connect with them, give them what you can, and watch them rise. To put it briefly—instead of imposing change, inspire it.
It seems like a miracle that the communities along Cancer Alley have been able to stay resilient through so many decades of injustice and pain. But calling it a miracle would be to take away from the work put in by the countless community members and local allies that have fought to protect their homes for so long. They have done well to get to this point. But this work is tiring, and the opposition is harsh. We need to give them the tools to carry on.
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