Summary and Strong Response on Coal Plants

In the press release “NAACP Report Reveals Disparate Impact of Coal-Fired Power Plants” the NAACP and its allies presented a discussion on a recently released research report titled “Coal Blooded: Putting Profits Before People.” In this article the group was hoping to bring to light the plight of the 6 million people living near coal-fired power plants. The NAACP report focuses more specifically on the poor and people of color living in these communities. The report ranks 379 power plants based on “Environmental Justice Performance,” which accounted for both toxic emissions and demographic factors. It included quotes from the NAACP President and CEO, Todd Jealous, stating how urgent he believed the issue is. The press release then informed on the NAACP’s suggested framework to transition to cleaner energy sources. Citing a case study on the closure of two plants in Chicago, the NAACP is hoping through this report to put a “human face” on the hazards of coal pollution. It ends by stating the health effects and statistics on death and hospitalizations caused per year by these plants.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

First off, I am determined to take this press release for what it is and who it is presented by. The purpose of the NAACP is just what it stands for, the advancement of colored people. However, the report immediately puts me on edge when it shows that 39% of the community are people of color. The report reads like this is a majority and an issue mainly for colored people. In most cases, people of color includes any race outside of Caucasian meaning that it is including Hispanic, Indian, Asian, etc. This means that the communities consist of 61% Caucasian residents. However there is no concern stated for this vast majority. They also do not include statistics on what percent of the 39% minority are living under the average nationwide income, a significant oversight in my eyes.

The second issue that I have with the paper is that the NAACP President...