Monday, May 5, 2008

Tuskegee All Over Again: Sludge Given to Black Families

Well, well. We thought the days of Tuskegee like experiments were over. Apparently not. A quick recap of the most recent assault on poor black people under the guise of doing good:

  • In 2000 U.S government spreads sludge on poor black families lawns in Baltimore and East St. Louis
  • Families told the sludge would protect children from lead poisoning
  • The theory that the sludge would absorb the lead and render it safe was questionable
  • Families were given additional incentives to till the sludge into their lead laden lawns
  • Sludge is the byproduct of waste water treatment-would you till that in your lawn?
  • The safety of sludge is questionable (read the book The Green Economy: Success Stories from the Grassroots)
  • U.S Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the matter this month

Folks this is why, black people do not like giving blood or getting flu shots.

Click here for the audio or transcript of the reporter that broke the story.

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