Alabama's Shiloh community struggles with floods and racism

In Alabama's Shiloh community, residents grapple with persistent flooding exacerbated by a highway expansion, highlighting issues of environmental injustice.

Lee Hedgepeth reports for Inside Climate News.

In short:

• The expansion of Highway 84 in Alabama has led to severe flooding in the historically Black Shiloh community, causing significant distress among residents.
• Robert Bullard, an environmental justice advocate, is bringing the community's plight to the White House, emphasizing the racial undertones of the neglect.
• The flooding has damaged homes and infrastructure, with residents attributing the issue to structural racism and poor engineering decisions.

Key quote:

“This was done on purpose. This wasn’t an accidental ‘oops.’ ALDOT cared more about not flooding the highway than they did about flooding the community. That is unacceptable.”

— Robert Bullard, environmental justice advocate.

Why this matters:

The situation in Shiloh is a stark example of how environmental issues can intersect with racial injustice, impacting health and living conditions. It underscores the need for equitable infrastructure planning and highlights the broader national issue of environmental racism.

LISTEN: Environmental justice researchers on what it means to be biracial.