Slavery, Colonialism, and Ecological Imperialism: Insights from Stratification Economics

Abstract

Black and Indigenous people in the United States have already begun to disproportionately suffer from the detrimental effects of climate change. Understanding how to address these disproportionate climate vulnerabilities can most potently be done through the lens of stratification economics. The persistent racial wealth gap is a reflection of the racist history of the United States, especially the legacies of slavery and settler colonialism. In addition, that racial history helps explain how Black people have become particularly susceptible to the climate crises. This article offers theoretical outlines to explain and, potentially, resolve ecological imperialism in the United States.