Asthma among children of color is a concept that renders profound contrast between rational science and emotional politics across America’s industrialized regions.
Over the decades, communities living near manufacturing plants and major cities experienced an increasing rate of the number of asthmatic children. It is a condition that is mainly caused by exposure to pollutants. A significant percentage of the factories render emission of toxic gases, that is, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, and ozone. The laborers in the factories comprise individuals from minority ethnic groups who resolve near the factories for convenience in transportation. As a result, the families become exposed to the toxic environmental state leading to elevated cases of the disease among their toddlers (Sze, 2007). The author argues that the emergent health problem is a threat to social growth and development across America since it is rampant within cities and regions such as New York, Williamsburg, West Harlem, and the Bronx. On the one hand, the prevalence of the risk demands attention from the relevant stakeholders and leaders. On the other hand, the matter materialized as a political framework with the establishment of activist groups. Asthma among children of color became the foundational pillar of the interpretation of environmental justice activism based on gender, race, and power struggles.
The increase in asthmatic incidences formed the political structures and mainframes across the American region. In this case, the disease developed into a bureaucratic and doctrinal phenomenon mainly addressed by the communities affected under the spectrum of environmental justice activism (Sze, 2007). Although the prevalence of the issue fosters the necessity to focus on establishing a solution, it is an endeavor that is manipulated by individualistic entities for an optimal benefit such as the attainment of power and influence. On the one hand, the health problem formed the centric foundation of governance in various cities and towns such as New York. On the other hand, the conditioning of the matter to a particular scope hinders the determination of a rational scientific solution to the core issue. It is paramount that administrative constituents focus on the objective view of the concern despite the precautionary perspective to eradicate the hazardous environmental status.
The reading offers a profound issue affecting American society that involves politicizing sensitive matters. Governance plays a significant role in promoting health social-economic growth, and development. Moreover, the rise in the health problem demands the attention of the community and other relevant stakeholders. It is agreeable with the author’s justification regarding the attention of the various institutional entities. Although the sects seek to foster change across the affected areas, it is under the motivation of power and influence. The administration must address the concern under an objective overview that exposure to the toxic chemicals emitted in industries is hazardous. In this case, developing the initiative of environmental justice activism poses a step toward the eradication of the main problem facing the minority groups affected.
Poor living conditions render the unaffordability of health services. Therefore, the prohibition of establishing additional factories due to the provision of employment opportunities to the marginalized population is a contentious construct. A significant percentage of the individuals depend on informal jobs, as a result, reducing the scale of development negatively affects the personnel as a trickle-down effect. It is recommendable that the patrons from different sectors address the medical case of increased asthmatic incidences among children based on sustainable practices to eradicate habitat pollution.
Reference
Sze, J. (2007). Noxious New York: The racial politics of urban health and environmental justice. MIT Press.