ABSTRACT
Environmentalism in the United States grew out of the progressive conservation movement that began in the 1890s. R. Kazis and R. Grossman refer to the practice as "job blackmail." The public is led to believe that there is no alternative to "business as usual" operation. Low income and minority residents can point to a steady stream of industries and jobs leaving their communities. Poor and minority residents had the most to gain in the passage of environmental regulations such as Clean Air Act since they lived closest to the worst sources of pollution. Mainstream environmental organizations were late in broadening their base of support to include blacks and other minorities, the poor, and working class persons. A "new" form of environmentalism has taken root in America and in the black community. Black communities are beginning to incorporate environmental safeguards into their agendas for economic development. Institutionalized discrimination continues to affect public policy decisions related to the enforcement of environmental regulations.
