My Research
I am currently studying the interplay between land development and environmental racism. I namely ask the question, “How do patterns of land development affect the manifestation of environmental justice across time and space?” In the long term, I look to use my research to find ways in which sustainable development can reduce disparities in environmental quality.
How did I get here?
My interest in environmental racism arose from a variety of factors, namely my early interest in Black history and a fascination with urban planning. Additionally, my time in Southeast Texas opened my eyes to environmental disparities. At the age of thirteen I embarked on a road trip from College Station, Texas to New Orleans. In the 5 hour stretch between Houston and New Orleans a multitude of oil refineries and petrochemical plants dotted the landscape. I would later learn that the communities in East Texas and Louisiana most affected by the pollutants from the plants are disproportionately Blacker and poorer than the rest of the country. I already held an interest in land development, which drove me to begin noticing patterns in the placement of environmentally hazardous facilities as I traveled through different regions. I also became aware of the ways in which both myself, my family, and my friends were affected by environmental hazard. Stories include a close friend telling me about how his grandmother feared drinking their home’s tap water and family members that worked on oil rigs in Louisiana. For our nation to progress we must realize that redeveloping our infrastructure in a greener, more equitable manner is both an imperative for human survival and a necessity for the long-term economic health of the country. I therefore grew to care about achieving environmental justice as a necessity for racial equity and societal uplift.
