Poem by Sofia Calderon
The United States government.
An entity who prioritizes the rich and fair skinned
Over the towns and cities with Black, Brown, and poor people.
Forever they have been used
As a dumping ground,
An excuse.
Seen as a team that wouldn’t step up,
One they thought no one would fight for.
While the politicians continually push them down,
The oppressed will always rise.
Rise from the ashes that have settled from the incinerators.
The ones that give Black children
Asthma at double the rate of White children.
The placement of parasitic polluting power plants
Projects the pure disregard for communities of color around the country.
These communities and the numbers shout their abuse.
For over 30 years, a chevron of placing hazardous waste facilities
in the hometowns of poor people and people of color has developed.
It envelops them in water and health issues
That floods their bodies with toxins no one should withstand
The world is becoming hotter.
This is the time to heal bruises that were made.
Previously redlined communities are being filled in on weather maps.
Temperatures of these areas are 5 – 12 degrees hotter than
Than those who were not caged in by lines.
It’s the opposite of right,
But the systems lay in concrete many aren’t willing to break.
Because if racism and classism were demolished
Where would the pollution be placed?
Where would the bigots get their money?
How else would they continue to destroy the planet with no one to blame it on?
What else would they show no care for if not for humans?
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