We have a right to live in a clean environment. Or it is because we are poor that we have to get used to being sick as a result of industrial contamination in our communities? Do we not have the same human rights as the wealthy and white people in [Puerto Rico]?
As cited in hilda lloréns’ “Toxix Racism in Puerto Rico’s Sacrifice Zone”
Our Afro-descended ancestors began their life with nothing. They did not own property and often died in poverty. They were unable to pass land or wealth down to us. We can’t turn a blind eye to the fact that we are descendants of people who were exploited, underpaid, and whose sources of livelihood became extinct.
Ruth “Tata” Santiago as cited in Hilda Llorens’ “The Making of a Community Activist”
Project Overview
Hello. My name is Alicia Argueta. I am a senior studying Sociology and Latin American & Latino/a Studies at Smith College. As someone born and raised in Central America, a region that will struggle with water shortages and drought in the coming years, the climate crisis has become a sociological and personal matter for me. As a result, while at Smith, I have gained a greater understanding of the efforts to combat climate change and address environmental injustice. I have taken courses centered around climate change and cultural-ecological narratives produced in Spanish-speaking regions, sociological and theoretical perspectives on present-day ecological and social conditions in our communities and societies, and the intersections of climate trends and conflict dynamics in Latin America and the world. As I gain knowledge and experience, I constantly look for ways to apply it to my academic work. As a result, for my Latin American Studies senior capstone project, I decided to create a workshop that centers on analyzing environmental injustice in Puerto Rico from a theoretical perspective.
For my senior capstone project, I created a workshop titled “Puerto Rico and the Coloniality of Environmental Injustice: A workshop to Strengthen Awareness and Understanding.” The workshop aims to educate high school and college students about the adverse effects of coloniality on Afro-descendants facing environmental injustice in regions like Jabos Bay, Puerto Rico. To complement the workshop, I created a digital StoryMap of Puerto Rico. It includes explanations of colonialism, coloniality, environmental injustice, and the island’s historical context. Additionally, it explores the current environmental injustice experienced by Afro-descendant communities and analyzes the connection between coloniality and environmental injustice. As a bonus, I offer the reading materials used (along with a recommended reading list) for my audience to read or review if they are interested in a particular point discussed in the workshop and StoryMap. I provide the reading materials I used for the workshop and StoryMap and a suggested reading list for anyone who wishes to explore a specific topic in further detail.
Since my target audience is students, I am giving this capstone project to Professor Molly Falsetti-Yu. Professor Molly Falsetti-Yu will use it as a valuable resource for her courses about climate change. Professor Falsetti-Yu is an exceptional educator who uses her classroom settings to focus on humanizing climate disasters through storytelling and raising awareness about environmental injustice. Having her incorporate this project as a classroom resource or supplement will help me achieve the goal of my capstone project. My goal is to raise students’ awareness of the issues faced by marginalized communities and inspire them to become involved.
This WordPress page will give you access the workshop, StoryMap, and relevant reading materials. To get started, please click on the “MENU” icon on this page’s top left corner.
Acknowledgements
I am very grateful to Professor Michelle Joffroy and my entire Capstone Project class for their invaluable support and insightful suggestions. I have greatly appreciated their help. This project came to fruition with their unwavering assistance. I also want to give a shout-out to the fantastic team at Smith’s Learning, Research & Technology – Abril Navarro, Meredith Richter, and Travis Grandy. They were incredibly helpful in assisting me with any issues I had with WordPress and other technical challenges. Their support was invaluable. I am grateful to Professor Falsetti-Yu for welcoming my project and allowing me to showcase my hard work to their students. I want also to express my gratitude to Professor Vanessa Adel, who kindly agreed to accept my project. Thank you so much for your support!