“Environmental Racism! That’s What It Is.”

Abstract

In this essay, Professor Lazarus discusses former NAACP director the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Chavis\u27s characterization of U.S. environmental policy as environmental racism. He first justifies this provocative topic choice and then suggests that Chavis\u27s allegation has transformed environmental law. Professor Lazarus next discusses the details of this transformation, arguing that Rev. Chavis has essentially reshaped the way environmental law and justice are conceived. He offers examples of various environmental programs and social and political effects traceable to Chavis\u27s environmental racism comment. Finally, the conclusion provides some of the author\u27s ruminations about the future of environmental law and policy