Sch-Unequal Protection

A 1987 study by the United Church of Christ Commission for Racial Justice concluded that hazardous waste disposal is more often inflicted on black residential communities than on others. Bullard, sociology professor at UC Riverside, helped organize the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit in 1991. An outgrowth of that meeting, these essays are contributed by lawyers, journalists, academics and grassroots leaders. They give compelling evidence that environmental disparities between white communities and those of color reflect enormous social inequalities; that these disparities have been created, tolerated and institutionalized by all levels of government. Several essays cite such hazardous locations as West Dallas, Tex.; Triana, Ala.; Chicago's South Side, Ill.; and Vernon, Calif. (the ``dirtiest zip code''). Other pieces focus on grassroots activism, networking and building a coalition. This collection is forceful and challenging and should be required reading for state and national policymakers. (May)