Hazel M. Johnson, Mother of Environmental Justice
Item
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Title
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Hazel M. Johnson, Mother of Environmental Justice
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Description
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A photograph of Hazel M. Johnson, recognized as “the mother of environmental justice” for her local activism in response to the impact of environmental hazards on a community of Chicago public housing residents as well as work at the federal level against environmental racism. Following the death of her husband from cancer in 1969, Johnson began surveying and documenting her neighbors’ chronic health problems and the poor maintenance of her housing complex. Johnson agitated for accountability from the Chicago Housing Authority, leading to water testing that found that the building’s drinking water was contaminated. In 1979, Johnson founded the People for Community Recovery, spawning a grassroots movement to protect public housing residents from environmental toxins. Johnson entered the national stage in the 1990s when she was awarded the President's Environment and Conservation Challenge Award in recognition of her advocacy work, joined a team of activists in fighting for the 1994 Environmental Justice Executive Order, and worked with Al Gore on his environmental platform.
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Type
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Still image
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Format
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.jpeg
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Subject
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people for community recovery; environmental justice; south side of Chicago; grassroots environmental activism
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Rights
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Used under fair use guidelines
Hazel M. Johnson