May 20th 2024.
The communities of Africatown and McIntosh, located in Alabama's "chemical corridor," have been living under the looming presence of the state's thriving chemical industry. This has led to concerns among residents that the expanding industrialization in the Mobile region is slowly causing harm to their health.
According to a report by Reckon, in 2021, Kemira, now known as Sterling Specialty Chemicals, completed a major expansion of its operations only 1,500 feet away from homes in Africatown. Joe Womack, a retired U.S. Marine Corps Major and the president of a local environmental group called C.H.E.S.S., explained that this is a recurring issue in Africatown. He shared that throughout the community's history, residents have tried to stop pollution, whether it be through peaceful communication or legal action. Despite some successes, Womack believes that their struggles have not been fully addressed, and the community continues to be impacted by the chemical industry.
Womack compared the situation in Africatown to a person being asked for their arm but giving only a thumb, thinking it was a good compromise. However, over time, more and more is taken away until there is nothing left. He believes that the City of Mobile, the Port Authority, and the local chemical industry have been slowly chipping away at the community's well-being.
Similarly, in McIntosh, Alabama, a town of only 250 residents, a similar story is unfolding. The community is surrounded by eight chemical plants, which are part of a larger network of 26 plants stretching from Highway 43 to Mobile, where Africatown is located. Like in Africatown, the residents of McIntosh also feel that they have been deceived and swindled out of their land by a homebuilder who later sold it to corporations, paving the way for the chemical industry to take over.
In 2017, Olin's chemical plant released chlorine into the air for 12 hours without warning the residents of McIntosh. This caused many to experience burning lungs and even led to the death of birds. Despite being fined by the Alabama Department of Energy, Olin has continued to release chemicals into the air, with four more instances reported, the latest being in January 2022.
Michael Hansen, the former executive director of GASP, a non-profit organization working towards reducing air pollution and promoting environmental justice, explained that this continuous practice by companies like Olin creates a "sacrifice zone" in communities like McIntosh and Africatown. He listed various health issues, such as cancer, asthma, heart disease, and respiratory problems, that are common among residents living in close proximity to these chemical plants.
But the residents of McIntosh are not staying silent. Andy Lang, a contract pipefitter and community advocate, has been bringing together members of the community to join lawsuits against Olin since 2018. Although the cases are not set to be heard until 2024, Lang remains determined to see change for the sake of his community and future generations. He shared that the children of McIntosh are his driving force, and he refuses to let their history and well-being be taken away by big corporations.
In conclusion, the communities of Africatown and McIntosh are fighting against the devastating effects of the chemical industry in their region. They refuse to be a "sacrifice zone" and are coming together to demand change and justice for their health and well-being.
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