Refusing Death: Immigrant Women and the Fight for Environmental Justice in LA

In Refusing Death, Nadia Y. Kim highlights the stories of Asian and undocumented Latin@ immigrant women who are leading a grassroots movement for environmental justice in Los Angeles. These women are influential due to their ability to redefine politics, community, and citizenship in the face of nativist racism and class injustice. They are aware of the physical and emotional harm caused by these issues and have developed creative ways to support and protect each other. They challenge the state's betrayal, demand respect, and refuse death.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2021
Publisher: Stanford University Press

The industrial-port belt of Los Angeles is a bustling hub that houses eleven of California's top twenty oil refineries, the largest ports in the country, and the infamous freeways that have come to symbolize racism. However, this unassuming corner of La La Land is also a place where pollution is taking a heavy toll on the local residents. In response, a grassroots movement for environmental justice has emerged, led predominantly by Asian and undocumented Latin@ immigrant women who are reshaping the political landscape of the nation. Despite their significant impact, these change makers remain largely unknown to the broader public.

In her book "Refusing Death," Nadia Y. Kim delves into the stories of these women, uncovering their profound influence as they navigate the challenges posed by the country's nativist racism and system of class injustice. This injustice is not limited to disproportionate environmental pollution but encompasses neglected schools, surveillance, deportation, and political marginalization. The women in this movement are acutely aware of how these harms impact their bodies and emotions, leading them to rely on a state that they often prefer to avoid and ignore.

Despite the many obstacles and contradictions they face, these women have developed innovative, unconventional, and loving ways to support and protect one another. They challenge the state's betrayal, demand respect, and ultimately refuse death. Their resilience and determination inspire others to join the fight for environmental justice and to recognize the vital contributions of marginalized communities in shaping our society.

The industrial-port belt of Los Angeles serves as a reminder of the complex intersection of environmental, social, and political issues that affect our lives. It is essential to acknowledge and address the challenges faced by these women and to work towards a more just and sustainable future for all. By recognizing and amplifying their voices, we can build a more inclusive and equitable society that values the health and well-being of all its members.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780804792660