"What You Should Know About Environmental Racism"

"Fighting for the environment and fighting against racism and classism are sometimes the same exact fight."

"Amidst the glow of the holiday season, most Americans find themselves engulfed by the familiarity of joyful tradition and routine, whether it's flying home to see family, or preparing a large feast for ugly-sweater-clad friends. But, in Flint, Michigan, a predominantly black, predominantly poor city where residents are living with lead-poisoned water, many families are struggling with the tragic reality of newly formed customs such as traveling to water distribution sites just to get clean water, and taking quick showers and praying that the resulting "white blotches" on your skin aren't an indication of kidney failure.

After surviving through these horrific conditions for over two years, on Tuesday, Michigan prosecutors charged four former government officials which includes two of the city's emergency managers, Gerald Ambrose and Darnell Earley, in a third round of prosecutions. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette charged the former emergency managers with multiple felonies that could result in them facing a sentence of up to 46 years in prison. Gov. Rick Snyder has yet to be formally charged. Flint's mayor, Karen Weaver, is hoping that this is the start of an investigation that will identify all guilty parties and addressing the problem of "profit being put over the health and well-being of the people."

The poisoning of Flint's water wasn't an accident, or an honest mistake. It was the result of greed and inexplicable shortcuts. It's also important to understand that Flint is actually far from being an isolated incident, or even being the worst example of lead poisoning in the nation."

Lincoln Blades reports for Teen Vogue December 21, 2016.