The environmentalism advocacy space has always been inclusive. However, the stereotype that is often associated with environmentalists has traditionally been perceived as White. There are several hidden figures from the Black and Indigenous communities that have fought for justice on behalf of their communities. One of those people was Hazel M. Johnson.
The story begins in 1935 New Orleans. Hazel M. Johnson was the first-born child of Mary Nee Dunmore and Clarence Washington. Living in the region known as “Cancer Alley,” Johnson was the only one out of four siblings to live past the age of one. By the time she turned 12, both of her parents had passed away.
The booming petrochemical operations that line the region likely played a role in the recurring tragedies that struck the Washington family.
In her late teens, she met her future husband, John Johnson. In 1962, the two relocated to Chicago to be closer to John’s family. The pair quickly fell in love with Altgeld Gardens, a public housing community in Chicago’s south side.
However, tragedy continued to follow when her husband was diagnosed with lung cancer. Doctors were baffled when John, aged 41, passed away from the disease despite not having any major risk factors.
Now a widowed mother of seven, Johnson began to notice that what happened to her husband was also happening to others in the Altgeld Gardens community. Heightened occurrences of cancer, asthma and miscarriages were commonplace in the Chicago neighborhood. Even her own children suffered from skin and respiratory illnesses with no obvious cause.
Linking illness to injustice
After watching a TV special that linked environmental pollutants to an increased cancer risk, Johnson questioned if this was the culprit behind her husband’s untimely death.
She tried to employ the help of the Environmental Protection Agency, but at the time the agency was less adept at helping communities. Then, in true grassroots fashion, Johnson scoured the community to help piece together her research.
Through comparing maps of her neighborhood and the surrounding area, she realized her beloved community existed inside a Toxic Donut. This was a defining point for Johnson and she decided to enter the world of local politics.
She campaigned for and helped elect former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington, a proclaimed candidate for the people. With the experience she gained in this campaign, she entered the race to represent her ward on Chicago’s City Council.
Once obtaining the seat, Johnson continued to advocate for her community but was often out-voted by her colleagues on the horseshoe.
In 1979, Johnson saw that the government was failing to deliver justice and founded People For Community Recovery. It was through this work that she discovered her community had some of the highest rates of cancer in the region.
People For Community Recovery
Johnson hit the ground running. Her organization took on the monumental task of dismantling the environmental hazards that surrounded Altgeld Gardens.
Over the coming decades, Johnson was pivotal in securing several wins for the community. The work of PCR led to the extension of water and sewage service, the creation of a new health clinic, a program to remove asbestos and PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls), lead removal and a moratorium on new landfills.
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Johnson’s work didn’t end there. She also used her expertise to help train the next generation of environmental justice activists. One of the people she mentored was a young Barack Obama.
Late career
In 1991, Johnson was an honored speaker at the first National People of Color Environmental Leadership summit. There she shared PCR’s journey at the national level. Along with other participants, she helped create the 17 Principles of Environmental Justice, which are still used by organizations today.
In 1994, Johnson was present when President Bill Clinton signed Executive Order 12898: Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations. This landmark order set aside federal resources for communities to stand up to toxic facilities. Clinton later declared the PCR has one of the top 100 environmental organizations in the nation.
In 2011, at the age of 75, Johnson passed away of congestive heart failure. Despite her passing, her legacy continues to thrive. Illinois renamed one of the state’s freeways to the “Hazel M. Johnson EJ Way.” In 2021, Congressman Bobby Rush declared the month of April as Hazel Johnson Environmental Justice Month.
Even in death, Johnson’s legacy remains a strong beacon of hope for those fighting against environmental injustice across the US.
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