A sharp blade, like overt racism, causes immediate damage. Hearing someone use a slur, for instance, is quick and painful. It's why some social scientists refer to micro-aggressions as "death by a thousand cuts." Because, over time, they have a cumulative impact. Racist, insensitive comments create a hostile environment that can cause psychological harm. Yet, it's also true that a dull blade can produce a greater injury. In this case, structural racism is akin to a weapon with jagged edges. One that created a wound that's difficult to heal. During the 1960s and 70s, America passed civil rights legislation prohibiting discrimination. But decades later, black communities endured the lingering impact of racist policies. Take, for instance, their access to basic resources, such as clean, safe drinking water.
In America, Black people are often exposed to poor quality drinking water. This is not the result of a single citizen, politician, or organization but rather a reflection of an unjust system that has neglected the needs of Black citizens. How did this happen? It's not as if city water departments are going house to house and matching the quality to the customers' race. This discrimination takes place on a broader scale, impacting entire communities. Racial redlining set the table by producing and maintaining segregation. These policies trapped many Black people in neighborhoods banks deemed unworthy of investment. This, in turn, created pockets of racialized poverty. Today, these communities are often called the "ghetto" or the "hood." It's common for conservatives to blame those living there for poor conditions. Yet, dilapidated infrastructure in black communities today is the legacy of Jim Crow. Lack of investment has consequences, such as diminishing the quality of the water infrastructure. One case that highlights this outcome would be the Flint Michigan Water Crisis.
The problem began when the city switched from using Lake Huron to the Flint River in 2014. Like many communities, this area suffered from long-term neglect. While the area boomed as a majority white city, that shifted after the collapse of the auto industry. Many White residents fled the area during the 1980s. Over time, the town became predominantly-Black. Thus, while regulations changed, officials failed to fix the dilapidated water infrastructure. Authorities failed to safeguard the city's water supply system from corrosion. As a result, lead and other harmful chemicals seeped into their water supply. An 8-year-old activist at the time, Mari Copeny, wrote to then-president Obama for help. She became the public face of a movement to increase access to safe drinking water. Sadly, the problem persisted despite national attention. And the efforts of local and national activists.
It should go without saying that lead pipes are harmful to residents. Even a low level of exposure can cause developmental problems in children as well as damage to kidneys and reproductive health of those who consume it. This is what makes drinking tap water so precarious. In some communities, it comes with a hidden risk. Banning a harmful substance is only half the battle. For instance, civil rights legislation made racial discrimination illegal. However, this did not eradicate the trouble. Discrimination persisted subtly because it is ingrained in beliefs and systems. In the same way, banning lead pipes was a great start to solving a public health problem. However, diagnosing a problem is not the same as solving one. The crisis will persist until city leaders commit to replacing the water infrastructure.
The problem in Flint, Michigan, reflects a much larger issue. One that isn't always easy to identify on sight alone. Researchers found a target contaminant in "27% of public analyzed water systems." Meaning this impacts close to a third of citizens. To make matters worse, many are unaware that they are affected. It's essential to note that contaminated water does not always appear brown or yellow. Or clouded. Indeed, some water seems clear, but its appearance is misleading. Without knowing it, many consume contaminated water regularly. Researchers found that Black and Hispanic communities were more likely to be exposed to contaminants. As well as those living in urban areas. This example highlights the innocuous nature of systemic racism. It doesn't need bells or whistles to announce its arrival. Or the blistering cut of a "whites only" sign. But its impact is jarring and multi-generational.
Of course, many communities outside of Michigan share the same problem. For instance, the 2022 Jackson, Mississippi, Crisis. This incident left over 150,000 residents without drinking water. Even today, residents complain of the water being contaminated. The problem began when the O.B. Curtis Water Treatment Plant failed following a storm. As in Flint, generations of neglect left the water treatment system vulnerable. It became yet another textbook example of systemic racism. Human Rights Watch called the problems "decades in the making." Amanda Klasing noted that racist policies and underfunding left Jackson's residents at risk. Decades after racial redlining has ended, black communities continue to feel the impact.
Access to clean, safe water is a human right. And yet, in America, Black people do not have equal access to this essential resource. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about this painful irony. That despite the nation's wealth and abolition of slavery, pockets of poverty persisted. Even a century after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. "The Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity," he noted. Access to health and wellness has become a privilege in a nation inundated with racism. But it shouldn't be. Here's what we should keep in mind. Today, racism does not need to take the form of a sharp blade. Especially when a dull one with jagged edges has such a lasting impact. Racial redlining is no longer permitted. Yet, black communities are still affected by America's second sin — segregation. It explains why they are more likely exposed to water with contaminants. And why their communities lack resources to provide citizens with safe, clean water.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of Dr. Allison Gaines' work on Medium.