Environmental Equity in Chattanooga Motivations to Participate in the Cleanup Movement of Alton Park & Piney Woods
Date of Award
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Social Sciences
First Advisor
Hernandez, Sarah
Keywords
Social Movements, Environmental Justice, African-Americans
Area of Concentration
Social Sciences
Abstract
This thesis explores the motivations of individuals to participate in social movements, while analyzing the layering and interaction between micro- and macro-structural motivational variables. Applying Lofland's comprehensive theory of background vs. situational variables, I analyze the motivations of individuals to participate as they specifically relate to a community-based, grassroots social movement (the 'cleanup movement') in the residential neighborhoods of Alton Park and Piney Woods in southern Chattanooga, Tennessee. This movement has emerged over the past three decades to promote environmental equity and address past disposal practices of toxic substances, which have left numerous environmental hazards posing potential health risks to the Health risks affecting persons in an individual's social vicinity emerged neighborhood. as the leading unconventional motivation for participants to join the cleanup political participation may be less probable in movement. While low-income black communities, the cleanup movement proves its possibility. It has also helped mobilize a partial cleanup of the area's largest hazardous waste site, Chattanooga Creek. The research is based on an analysis of existent documentation and previous research, as well as ten semi-structured interviews with actual activists from the cleanup movement.
Recommended Citation
Silverman, Ken A., "Environmental Equity in Chattanooga Motivations to Participate in the Cleanup Movement of Alton Park & Piney Woods" (2003). Theses & ETDs. 3311.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/3311
Rights
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.