Untangling The Roots of Environmental Racism
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
In Watts, the roots of farming and environmental racism have been entangled since the 20s.
Watts Labor Community Action Committee president Tim Watkins explains that the ongoing environmental destruction of Watts is rooted in a history of racism and segregation going back over a century. He recounts what motivates him to open a community farm in the middle of Watts.
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10 Days in Watts is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal
Untangling The Roots of Environmental Racism
Clip: Episode 2 | 1m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Watts Labor Community Action Committee president Tim Watkins explains that the ongoing environmental destruction of Watts is rooted in a history of racism and segregation going back over a century. He recounts what motivates him to open a community farm in the middle of Watts.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship[Music] Tim Watkins: By 1923, Black farmers in Watts were becoming the predominant demographic, and they were great at farming.
It was an amazing place.
The Ku Klux Klan was also a predominant organization located in Watts, and enjoyed the benefit of covenant restrictions as a matter of poor public policy that restricted Black folks from living next door to white folks.
That's when the environmental destruction began.
Moses: I need you guys to put these boxes on the ground, where there's no boxes, OK?
[Kids speaking at once] Tim Watkins: The railroad right-of-ways today that traverse Watts north, east, south, and west are the single most contaminated system.
[Kids speaking indistinctly] Tim Watkins: Airplanes dropped fuel on Watts.
There was no restriction.
A pilot can elect to dump fuel, and they did dump fuel.
Kid: I'm over here.
Come get me.
Tim Watkins: The pipes in Watts that were put in 100 years ago, they leach lead.
The city, the county, the state, the federal government have already told us that our children are going to live 12 years less than elsewhere in Los Angeles as a result of being poisoned by their environment.
I'm trying to make the point that despite all of these things, people long and hope for a better way of life, and that's what compels me.
[Music]
We Are Taught to Survive (Preview)
Video has Closed Captions
Preview: Ep2 | 30s | A week from opening, the farm presses on in the face of challenges and deadlines. (30s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep2 | 2m 25s | For community leader Janine Watkins, a garden represents the beauty of possibilities. (2m 25s)
Imparting Self-Love and Land Stewardship
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: Ep2 | 2m 46s | Watts leader Janine Watkins on the importance of self-love and being a steward of nature. (2m 46s)
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10 Days in Watts is a local public television program presented by PBS SoCal