The topic of environmental racism was first introduced to me during an ethnic lecture series at UW-Parkside in 2013. Environmental racism is the placement low-income and minority communities affected by hazardous chemicals. Additionally, people of color are more likely to reside in areas with greater exposure to air, water, and land pollution, hazardous waste treatment facilities, exposure to pesticides, and chemical and geographic or residential isolation. I found it very disturbing how often this happens in the United States. Social justice must be accessible to people living in areas where environmental racism affects their community. The United States must make changes to protect communities that experience the negative consequences of environmental racism. Environmental racism can be significantly reduced by eliminating residential segregation, structural racism, and instituting regulations. There is a direct correlation with brownfields and ethnic communities. Environmental racism has multiple causes that are responsible for its creation. It started with direct racism, which was the foundation of racist policies. Ultimately, this is what created all white communities, because there was a desire to keep minority groups out of sight and out of mind. This is called residential segregation. Minority groups were forced to settle in unfavorable areas where no one else wanted to reside. And this continues today. It started with laws from our government that made fighting environmental racism even more difficult. As the United States admitted in its 2000 periodic report, "For many years, the federal government itself was responsible for the pro...... middle of paper ....../> . "Initial Report of the United States of America America to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. New York City. September 2000. American Network Human Rights. Mayer, Seth. “Environmental Racism: A Case Study in Chicago.” University of Wisconsin Parkside, November 2013. Mary E. and Peggy M. Shepard. “Commentary: Environmental Racism and Public Health.” American Journal of Public Health, May 1997: Premier Business Source. “A Question of Social Justice: The Case of Louisiana Communities and Their Struggle for Environmental Sustainability.” 14.3/4 (2007): 154-175. March. 2014.