By Sunnie
On Halloween day in 2023, the people of Flint were deprived of their chance at justice within the court of law. After enduring nine long years of consequences stemming from Michigan officials’ decision to cut corners in the water treatment process from the Flint River, those responsible have yet to face the consequences of their actions. This news took me back to the first time I saw Little Miss Flint.
She was just a little girl when lead first began to contaminate the water supply to her community. The thought of gaining significant attention for your plight, only to be forgotten as the media spotlight fades, is devastating.
In 2014, the pivotal decision to cut water costs in Flint showcased the environmental racism that led to the water crisis. The city, where 56.7% of the population is Black, has suffered from blatant neglect. Before 2014, the Flint River was a dumping ground for treated and untreated wastewater from commercial sources, the local waste plant, and chemicals from landfills. As the manufacturing industry declined and prosperity left, so did the residents. Consequently, the city’s budget fell under state control in 2011.
Governor Rick Snyder, appointed as Flint’s emergency financial manager, had a single objective: to slash the budget at any cost. This directive led to switching from Lake Huron to the Flint River for the city’s water consumption. Despite warnings that the river water needed anti-corrosive treatment to prevent lead exposure, it remained untreated. In April 2014, residents began reporting foul-smelling and discolored water. Even when Detroit offered assistance to reconnect Flint to a clean water source, Jerry Ambrose, the then Flint Emergency Manager, declined due to the increase in costs of an additional $1 million per month. By 2015, when the issue of lead-contaminated water became predominant, the opportunity for easy remediation had passed. Reconnecting to Detroit’s water did little to repair the corroded pipes or reverse the harm inflicted on Flint’s residents.
The Flint Water Crisis has exposed an estimated 14,000 children under the age of six to lead, a substance extremely harmful to human development. Currently, Flint’s water still contains a lead level of 8ppb, yet those responsible have faced no consequences. The lawsuit against Governor Snyder and others has been dismissed, and an attempt to refile was thwarted by the statute of limitations.
My heart aches for the people of Flint. They have suffered injustice, and the generational impacts will follow, with the world having turned its back when they needed support the most. It is now critical to consider how we can help alleviate the suffering in Flint. I urge you to follow influencers like @littlemissflint, who provides information on how to donate, petition, and raise awareness about the community’s needs. If possible, volunteer your time; organizations like United Way of Genesee County and Well of Hope Flint offer opportunities for involvement.
Lastly, never forget the people of Flint. Continue to speak out about the injustices robbed from the city’s youth and the lack of justice for their suffering. Stay intentional in following any future legal developments.
Sunnie is a digital nomad traveling through Europe, gathering cultural perspectives and experiences. With a background in African American and African Studies, as well as environmental science and sustainability, she is passionate about the arts, mental health, social justice, and the world that encompasses these areas. You can contact her at thenewcitizenspress@gmail.com.
