Summary
As Congress debates a massive bill to overhaul the nation's physical infrastructure, one Michigan city is an example of how badly help is needed, and how communities of color are often the last to receive it. John Yang traveled to Benton Harbor, where the water is undrinkable and residents' anger is at a boiling point.
Five Facts
-
Who
is affected by a water crisis in Benton Harbor, Michigan?
-
What
is the problem with the water in Benton Harbor?
-
When
and
How
did the problem become known?
-
Why
hasn't the problem with Benton Harbor water been resolved, according to those interviewed in this piece?
-
How
are residents of Benton Harbor trying to work through the problem with their water even as their tap water remains undrinkable?
Focus Questions
Reverend Edward Pinkney, who was one of the first to alert authorities to problems with Benton Harbor's drinking water, says that the lack of response to the problem is an example of "environmental racism." What do you think he means?
Media literacy:
Why do you think the producers chose to focus interviews more on the residents of Benton Harbor than authorities and officials who are responsible for Benton Harbor's water supply?
For More
In this story, the dangerous levels of lead in Benton Harbor's drinking water weren't discovered until residents had the water tested themselves. Do you know how to test the quality of drinking water in your home or community? You can discuss as a class and
start here
, with information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on testing for lead in water.
To learn more about the history of the water crises in Benton Harbor and Flint, Michigan, read
How segregation and neglect left Benton Harbor, Michigan with toxic water
by NewsHour's Frances Kai-Hwa Wang.
