Asian Enclaves under Pressure: Social and Environmental Justice in Flushing and Boston's Chinatown

Abstract

Asian American communities experience intersecting challenges of social and environmental injustices that threaten residents' healthy long-term standard of living and even lead to displacement. This research case investigates and examines the injustices faced by two Asian enclaves on the eastern coast of the United States: Flushing in New York City and Chinatown in Boston. This research takes a comparative case study approach to explore the impact of environmental pollution, lack of infrastructure, and development of upscale housing on these marginalized communities. This paper highlights how systemic neglect and unequal development disproportionately affect the lives of low-income Asian immigrants and Asian Americans and how community organizing and inclusive urban planning can resist these unjust conditions and aid in transformative change. This paper contributes to environmental and social justice in ethnic enclaves by proposing strategies for equitable and inclusive development