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TreesDurham works to make our tree canopy healthy, sustainable and socially just- because right now our trees are sick, our trees are unprotected and our trees racially inequitable. And so is our community.
Among the many other forms of racism endured, Durham's communities of color bear the heavy burden of environmental injustice: living surrounded by polluted air, water and soil, denied the clean, cool air and shade provided by trees and targeted by developers for reductions in access to open space, trees and forests. This is Environmental Racism. This racism creates deadly impacts and must stop. Now.
We must all work on every levels to end racism in all its forms. Here’s how trees play their part.
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Adults who live in neighborhoods without trees have more asthma and higher blood pressure. They are more likely to develop diabetes, dementia and Alzheimer’s. They pay more in health costs, while at the same time miss more work to take care of the health of themselves and their families. Treesless neighborhoods are usually within our communities of color, whose residents already make less, have less access to health care and are more likely to be front line workers. Living without trees makes racial health inequity worse.
Black Lives Matter
Neighborhoods that aren't shaded by trees -in Durham our urban areas and communities of color- experience more extreme heat events, have more violent crime, and show lower community cohesion. Families whose homes aren't shaded by trees pay twice as much in air conditioning costs, if they can afford it at all, while still experiencing higher health impacts from heat-created air pollution outside their door. Living without trees makes racial housing inequity worse.
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Kids whose schools have fewer trees score lower on tests, have higher incidents of ADD/ADHD, and have lower confidence in themselves. Kids that live in neighborhoods without trees and parks must play in hot streets, must fight through more asthma, and must deal with more bullying. Living without trees makes racial childhood disparity worse.
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Neighborhoods without forests are hotter, dirtier, and more likely to flood. Their residents are poorer, sicker, and victims of more crime. They pay more in medical and electricity bills, while their homes have lower value and need more maintenance. Their kids have lower confidence, lower grades and experience more violence. This is the Environmental Racism that our communities of color face every day, right here in Durham. This is Wrong. Environmental Racism is Racism.
Black Lives Matter
In Durham, Environmental Racism started the day that Europeans arrived and has impacted native peoples and people of color ever since. We must and we will address Environmental Racism head on as we work to combat Racism and the white supremacy structures that support it.