Abstract
Utilizing the idea of Aldon Morris’ (1984) local movement centers and rural social networks more broadly, I explore the development and impacts of local movement centers and social networks in helping a rural, southeastern counties in North Carolina engage in the Environmental Justice Movement. Ultimately, my research question is as follows: How do rural African American communities organize themselves to engage in environmental justice? By organize, I mean obtain and disseminate information, strategize and employ tactics to fight against environmental racism and inequality, and the ways in which these groups assemble? I believe that by answering these questions through research, the rural local action network process can be realized. In order to investigate the development of and existing local movement centers, I plan to interview community members in Sampson county that have been impacted by the environmental strains created by hog farm CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), natural disasters such as flooding and hurricanes, as well as the location of a landfill in Sampson County. Through the interviews, I can identify how individuals utilize their social networks to advocate for themselves. By coupling interviews with archival research as well as participating in community activities when possible, I believe I will be able to accurately map the networks and local movement center frameworks that Sampson County is utilizing or not utilizing to combat environmental challenges within their communities.
Presenters
Danielle KoonceStudent, PhD, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Environmental Justice, Networks, Rural, Black Communities, Local Movement Centers, Race
