Ability Quote by Barack Obama
“Generally speaking in America, a lot of environmentally problematic facilities tend to be located in places where poor folks live because wealthier folks have the ability to say, "not in my backyard."”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on Environmental Justice, 2016
Poor communities often host harmful facilities because wealthier residents can oppose them, highlighting systemic inequality.
In simple terms: Rich people keep bad sites away from them, leaving them for the poor.
Key Takeaway
Address inequality by demanding fair siting of harmful facilities.
Themes
environmental justice
economic disparity
political power
community health
urban planning
Mood
concerned
determined
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- city council meetings
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
- environmental impact assessments
Key Concepts
systemic racism
public policy
social equity
Questions to Reflect On
- Who is responsible for equitable zoning?
- How can communities gain more influence?
A Different Perspective
Changing entrenched power dynamics is complex and slow.
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
