Another Water Crisis, Another Poor Majority Black City
Benton Harbor, like Flint, Michigan, in 2014, has no safe drinking water
And now, Benton Harbor, Michigan has a safe water crisis. Mostly Black Benton Harbor.
It hits me in the gut because I worked in Michigan for 11 years. I was a lawyer and law professor who ran a free housing clinic for low and moderate-income Michiganders.
When the Flint Water Crisis dropped in 2014-2016, I was right there.
My students and I found ourselves one ice-cold snowy evening in a room with thousands of people who were suing Michigan and the city of Flint and all kinds of other people because of what had been done to them.
We traveled to Flint three times. We were asked to come by a law firm bringing the lawsuit against the state of Michigan and the city of Flint. They asked us to come to give tenants legal advice regarding their housing situations.
It was a pretty dire situation and intimidating. It was/is also a crime against humanity, the women, men, and children of Flint.
People died. People are still sick. Children are suffering cognitive damage because of the lead they ingested unknowingly. Criminal trials are pending against government officials.
Now, Benton Harbor, Michigan. It is another disaster in the making. It is an American story. Both of these stories are examples of many things — environmental racism, infrastructure neglect, the failure of environmental laws and regulations, poverty.
Take your pick.
But do check the story below. Get mad. Get angry.
How about some justice, Michigan for the people of Benton Harbor? And some safe drinking water?
Lead is everywhere we all know now. When it was discovered very long ago that using lead in the construction of infrastructure, buildings, and housing was dangerous and should end, America did not shut it down very quickly. It went on and on and now there is lead everywhere — in old buildings and in water pipes, mostly.
How about justice, America? Do you know what that is?
PBS Link to Benton Harbor Story: