What's Happening Now?

Greensboro and Princeville, NC

Environmental Justice Along the Underground Railroad

The Underground Railroad Tree, Greensboro’s Guilford College Woods: This tree is a southern terminus of the underground railroad that people used to escape slavery by traveling north. Courtesy of Marcia Rosalie Hale, UNCG Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies.

Upcoming Events & Programs
  1. Greensboro and Princeville, NC

The Problem

Escaping environmental threats, African Americans move between nodes along a former underground railroad route from Princeville to Greensboro. In 20 years, floods displaced more than 2,000 Princevillians. Environmental justice issues in Greensboro include: soil and water contamination, lack of housing and green space, food deserts, and intensifying storms.

The Roots

In 1885, Princeville became the first U.S. town incorporated by formerly enslaved people, but racism obscured this achievement. Since 1999, many have also lost their homes to hurricane-related floods. Some moved to Greensboro, which hosts other displaced people and EJ issues.

The Solutions

Reclaiming identity is a step in addressing environmental injustice and historic oppression. Princeville’s Portraits of Humanity exhibit shares its history of faith, unity, and resilience. FaithAction International House in Greensboro, a place of refuge, has an ID card program for the whole community that helps restore identity to displaced people who lack documentation.

The “bathtub ring” around Lake Mead illustrates the overuse of the Colorado River. Courtesy of Adam Kliczek, Wikimedia Commons, 2012.
1
The Central Arizona Project: CAP fueled suburban development of Arizona, with housing supplanting farmland. Courtesy of Colorado State University.
2
 Flood irrigation in Yuma: Flooding fields has long been a common method of watering crops in the American west. Courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
3
Canals encouraged Anglo settlement of Arizona in the early 20th century. Courtesy of Historic American Engineering Record.
4
19th-century Anglo settlers excavated canals that the Hokoham Civilization had developed over 1,000 years earlier, before its collapse in the 15th century. Courtesy of Historic American Engineering Record.
5
States, lawmakers, and the courts debated the allocation of the Colorado River for much of the 20th century. Courtesy of Arizona State University.
6

Our Point of View

As environmental and sustainability studies students, we have worked towards the preservation of nature while learning about vulnerable communities. From coastal drilling to mountaintop removal in the Appalachians, our state faces many environmental justice issues. We have gained insight into the relationships between environmental and social issues that affect North Carolinians. With this project, we hope to increase awareness of environmental injustices and the importance of community.

University of North Carolina Greensboro

FaithAction International House educates and connects community across lines of culture and faith—turning strangers into neighbors. We help meet basic needs and provide translation, education, and employment readiness; safe space and accompaniment for domestic/sexual violence victims; and identification cards in partnership with local agencies.

Incorporated after the Civil War, Princeville is the oldest town in the U.S. chartered by African Americans who had been enslaved. Two hurricane-related floods devastated the town in 1999 and in 2016. Residents of Princeville are determined to rebuild and preserve their legacy.

FaithAction International House

Contributors

University Partners

University of North Carolina Greensboro

Exhibit design and development - students from the Department of Geography, Environment, and Sustainability, UNCG - Spring 2019
Katie Farina
Miguel Lopez
Maricruz Robledo-Burney
Yakub Yahaya, MA, Graduate Assistant: Department of Peace and Conflict Studies, UNCG

Research assistants - students from the Joint Bachelor of Social Work Field Education Program with NC A&T and UNCG - Fall 2018
Terrell Archie
Imani Barnes
Abigail Basurto-Mejia
Esther Frimpong
Karianna Fulk
Maria Beva Garcia Alemany
Lachynna Ledwell
Olga Martinez Zorrilla
Mikaela Moracco-Schelp
Mentzie Rahman
Cherice Riley
Gabriela Rodriguez
Patrice Scurlock
Nancy Uwera
Dajia Whitaker
Seth Rumbley, Grad assistant (fall 2018 & spring 2019)

Research assistants - students from the Joint Bachelor of Social Work Field Education Program with NC A&T and UNCG - Spring 2018
Dahlia Antunez
Greizy Beckles
Janet Chicas
Temesha Clark
Deja Dancy
Tyreece Fant
Abby Gallegos
Annie Luckadoo
Esmeralda Mendez
Amber Parrish
Angela Soto
Hadiza Soumalia
Elizabeth Whitcombe
Erica Vidal
Christian Zik Nsonwu, Honors College, Lead student research assistant (fall 2017-spring 2018)

Faculty Project Directors
Dr. Aaron S. Allen, Associate Professor of Musicology and Director of the Environment & Sustainability Program, UNCG
Dr. Jennifer Feather, Associate Professor of English and UNCG Humanities Network and Consortium Project Coordinator
Dr. Marcia Rosalie Hale, Assistant Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and UNCG Humanities Action Lab Primary Investigator
Dr. Meredith C. F. Powers, Assistant Professor, Social Work Department and UNCG Humanities Action Lab Primary Investigator, and Director of the Climate Justice Program of the International Federation of Social Workers
Dr. Steve Kroll-Smith, Professor of Sociology and UNCG Humanities Action Lab Primary Investigator and Editorial Manager, Natural Hazards

Community Partners

FaithAction International House

David Fraccaro, Executive Director
The Staff of FaithAction International House

Local Supporters

Dr. Omar Ali, Dean of Lloyd International Honors College, UNCG
Dr. Emily Stamey, Curator of Exhibitions, The Weatherspoon Art Museum
Dr. Torren Gatson, Assistant Professor of Public History, UNCG
J Chastain, Admissions Specialist for the Graduate School, UNCG
The University Teaching and Learning Commons, UNCG
Guilford College

Local Funders