There are several people who have been called heroes in uncovering the flint water crisis. Flint, mi a new book on the flint water crisis by dr. Flint pediatricians book selected as great michigan read. City are not just important books, they are useful as history and as. Hannaattishas book covers a monthlong period in the middle of the crisis, roughly from the moment she learned about lead in flint s water to a news conference she held announcing test. Environmental justice and democracy in the flint water crisis.
Besides the uncommon sense, he also contributed articles for your magazine, the flint journal and downtown flint revival magazine. Sep 12, 2019 the flint water crisis may be best recognized for reigniting concerns about the levels of lead in municipal drinking water, but its less often associated with a deadly outbreak of legionnaires. Five years since the poisoning of flints water supply. Karen eaton, a longtime resident of flint, michigan, lives in a house built in 1920. Years after reports surfaced of alarmingly high lead levels in the water system, the toll of the crisis is becoming clear. The state of michigan could have ended bottled water in early september 2017 in accordance with the mediated concerned pastors for social action settlement agreed to by the city of flint, state of michigan, concerned pastors for social. Flint water crisis could squeeze michigan s finances. At least 1 in 5 students in flint s public schools are.
Its been four years since flint s crisis began, and some residents still live without access to potable water, and the water at some schools still tests above the federal threshold some of. Flint doctors water crisis book is this years great. Flint michigan history decline poverty unemployment racial segregation and water lead pollution crisis. Ap a book by a flint pediatrician and public health expert who helped expose the citys leadcontaminated water crisis has been selected as this years great michigan read. Sep 10, 2019 flints deadly water is the result of two years of ontheground reporting from a team of frontline journalists all of them michigan natives who set out to determine the true toll of the. But a new book a childrens book makes the argument that kids are the heroes, because flint kids have had to learn new ways to eat, drink, and live their lives. Jan 20, 2016 cnnthe flint water crisis keeps plaguing residents, but the trouble has been years in the making. Add to that the horrifying irony of a water crisis erupting in flint, smack in the middle of the great lakes region, the largest source of. Through knowledge of chemistry, including the formation of precipitates, the ph scale, and the redox chemistry of halfreactions, scientists were able to solve the flint water mystery.
Mar 26, 2020 flint s ethnic diversity increased markedly with the labor demands of the auto industry. The lead water crisis in flint was the result of a hasty and sloppily implemented decision to change the source of the towns water from lake michigan to the flint river without adequate testing for, and without legally mandated treatments to address, higher levels of corrosiveness in the new water supply. Apr 25, 2019 the flint river scribbles 142 miles through mid michigan, and a noticeable change occurs as it flows southwest into the city of flint. Flint michigan history decline poverty unemployment racial. Book on flint water crisis to be featured at fall luncheon. Neglect, poor planning, and bad decisions led to flints. Its been more than three years since flint, michigan, switched its water source in an effort to save money, which led to a manmade public health crisis embroiling michigan gov. But that flip of a switch isnt when the citys water crisis began.
The first full account of the flint, michigan, water scandal, an. Nick lyon is the director of the michigan department of health and human services. Gary is the author of remembering flint, michigan, published by the history press. Doctor pens book on her role in flint water crisis. A story of environmental injustice and bad decision making, the water crisis in flint, michigan, began in 2014, when the city switched its drinking water supply from detroits system to the. Mona hannaattisha has landed on oprah winfreys list of the top books to read this summer. Doctor pens book on her role in revealing flint water crisis. Rick snyders administration in scrutiny and criminal charges against a. April 25, 2014, is a significant date in the history of the flint water crisis. In 2014, the city of flint, michigan switched the source of the water supply to save money. The book details the lead up to the flint michigan water crisis, written. Book detailing the lead up to the flint michigan water crisis written by woman who exposed the crisis been selected as this years great michigan.
A story of crisis, resistance, and hope in an american city, goes on sale tuesday, june 19. When the people of flint, michigan, turned on their faucets in april 2014, the water pouring out. The twoway lead seepage into the drinking water in flint, mich. Environmental justice and democracy in the flint water crisis urban and industrial environments by benjamin j. Shes part of a classaction lawsuit stemming from the 2014 switch in the citys water supply. A selective bibliography of books lead poisoning sources research guide archive.
Tonight on msnbc, the rachel maddow show will host a town hall with residents of flint, michigan to discuss the steps ahead in dealing with the towns toxic water crisis. Flint doctors water crisis book is this years great michigan read. Also of interest are the papers of peter jacquette and roger townsend and the scrapbooks of the flint urban league. Mar 10, 2020 pediatrician who uncovered flint water crisis will visit campus as part of great michigan read posted on march 10, 2020. He released his emails on the water crisis, and all of. The flint water crisis may be best recognized for reigniting concerns about the levels of lead in municipal drinking water, but its less often associated with a deadly outbreak of legionnaires. The flint water crisis is a public health crisis that started in 2014, after the drinking water source for the city of flint, michigan was changed. Five years on, the flint water crisis is nowhere near over. A new book about flint s water crisis comes from the pediatrician and public health expert who was first to reveal the extent of lead contamination on the struggling citys children. Flints water continues to test the same as or better than similar cities across the state and country. Flint s water and the american urban tragedy, named one of the years best books by the washington post, the san francisco chronicle, kirkus, the new york public library, audible, and others. Later in 2016, the federal court ordered michigan state officials and the city of flint to ensure that every flint home had access to safe drinking water. This is an important book, for flint, for all american cities, and for our nation. Neglect, poor planning, and bad decisions led to flint s water crisis.
Childrens book pays tribute to unsung heroes of flint water. Youve heard those voices many times on this station. Apr 25, 2019 rick hayood loaded bottles of water into a residents car in flint, mich. A cornucopia of history and responsibly researched details. Brown water flows from a faucet in flint, michigan the visible aspect of a water emergency. Flint is ignoring tens of millions of dollars for water pipeline replacement. Their hair started falling out, and showers left their bodies burning with red welts. Immediately, there were complaints about the taste. This is a guide to researching various topics of flint s history. The water crisis in flint is the most egregious example of environmental injustice in recent u. Poisoned water shows not just how the crisis unfolded in 2014, but also the history of racism and segregation that led up to it, the beliefs and attitudes that fueled it, and how the people of flint foughtand are still fightingfor clean water and healthy lives. When governor rick snyder declared an emergency in the state, he removed a swath of elected government positions and appointed emergency managers into these roles. Pediatrician who uncovered flint water crisis will visit.
I have yet to encounter a more thorough, accurate or readable account of the poisoning of flint s municipal water supply than the poisoned city. A story of crisis, resistance, and hope in an american city. April 25 marked the fifth anniversary of the flint, michigan water crisis. The flint river scribbles 142 miles through mid michigan, and a noticeable change occurs as it flows southwest into the city of flint. Gary flinn showcases the obscure and surprising elements of the vehicle citys past, including how the 2014 water crisis was a half century in the making. The flint water crisis is a drinking water contamination crisis in flint, michigan. Oct 22, 2018 the water crisis in flint is the most egregious example of environmental injustice in recent u. In michigan, if youre in financial dire straits, the state can come in and. Flint water crisis book selected as great michigan read bookstr. The researcher should be aware that as the geographic area or topic becomes more specific, the number of published or online sources declines, which is why a visit to the genesee historical collection center on the 2nd floor of the frances willson thompson library to visit primary source documents is a great idea. Flint, mi a flint pediatricians book on the citys water crisis has been chosen for a statewide reading and discussion program that kicks off. A medical and scientific thriller, the book grapples with our countrys history of.
We also offer recommendations intended to ensure that another flint does not happen again in flint or anywhere in michigan. Mona hannaattisha explained shortly before addressing an audience sunday night at the maryland theatre, is not just about the lead water crisis in flint. Jul 03, 2018 a january 2016 protest in lansing, michigan over the flint water crisis. Books about the past, present, and future of american cities if youre looking for the heart, humor, and, at times, horror of flint, michigan and cities like it all over the country look no further than these five nonfiction books. A poem for flint, four years after the water crisis began. A native of michigan, clark was inspired to write a collection of individual journalistic articles on the crisis before she created her book. In doing so, they unwittingly introduced leadpoisoned water into homes, in what would become a massive publichealth crisis. When flint changed its water source from treated detroit water and sewerage department water to the flint river, it created a serious public health danger. A story of crisis, resistance, and hope in an american city hannaattisha, mona on. Anna clark shares her book advocating on behalf of flint. Flint water crisis blamed for lower fertility rates.
Flint ignores tens of millions of dollars in water. A timeline of the flint water crisis my original intent was to host programs highlighting the work organizations in our community are doing to protect the flint river watershed, says laurie bone, the museums senior curator of programs, mentioning the flint river watershed coalition, the genesee conservation district, and the michigan sea grant. Flint community leaders were livid with joe biden after he barely mentioned the water crisis when people who have power to elevate your story come and totally disregard your story, youre retraumatized, said one flint public health advocate who felt biden used the event as little more than a. A new book about flints water crisis comes from the pediatrician and public health expert who was first to reveal the extent of lead contamination on the struggling citys children. Mona hannaattisha offer cleareyed accounts of the flint water crisis that exposed the michigan citys residents to lead. Jul 10, 2018 flint, michigan, changed its water system in 2014, resulting in water so toxic that residents got sick. Anna clark, author of riders 2019 shared read book the poisoned city, spoke about the flint, michigan, water crisis in the bart luedeke center theater on oct. Concrete slopes capped with wire fences flank the water. In her new book the poisoned city, author anna clark offers a compelling account of how the flint water crisis happened. Flint eying significance of ag actions, bombshell vice. Flint, michigan, changed its water system in 2014, resulting in water so toxic that residents got sick. A 150year timeline of the flint water crisis pacific.
Jun 25, 2018 flint was in a nearbankruptcy state, really suffering from crisis for years, if not decades before this water crisis. Ap its been more than three years since flint, michigan, switched its water source in an effort to save money, which led to a manmade public health crisis embroiling michigan gov. By now, americans are generally familiar with the longterm disaster in flint, michigan, where lead in the drinking water highlights our nations failing infrastructure and the inadequacies of governments current response to publichealth crises. Five years after the citys water crisis, suspicions remain high. Frontlines flint water crisis report suggests dozens of.
New book on flint water crisis explores toxic legacy of. Joe biden went to flint and barely mentioned the water. Flint crisis creating bull market for water stocks. History of the substantial africanamerican community is documented well in the papers of edgar holt and olive beasley in the ghcc. Michigan water regulator fired for role in flint crisis as fallout continues. A new york times notable book the dramatic story of the flint water crisis. Flint water crisis book selected as great michigan read. New book on flint water crisis explores toxic legacy of racist policies. In april 2014, flint changed its water source from treated detroit water and sewerage department water sourced from lake huron and the detroit river to the flint river. It is the winner of the hillman prize for book journalism and the rachel carson environment book award.
The flint water crisis was entirely preventable and the result of an ideology of extreme austerity, mona hannaattisha, the flint pediatrician who proved flint children were being poisoned with toxic lead in their drinking water, writes in a new book. Prior to the decision by a stateappointed emergency manager to switch the water source to the flint river in an effort to cut costs, the residents of flint were impacted by many factors that negatively affected a wide range of health and development risks and qualityoflife outcomes. Flint is ignoring tens of millions in federal and state grant dollars available. On 25 april 2014, flint mayor dayne walling ceremoniously shut off a valve to the detroit water supply and opened the flow of the flint river into local homes and businesses. Flint was in a nearbankruptcy state, really suffering from crisis for years, if not decades before this water crisis. How flints water crisis happened, and why it isnt over. The book details the lead up to the flint michigan water crisis, written by a woman who exposed the crisis was selected as this years great michigan read. Residents of flint, michigan are pulling together but preparing for the worst, years after lead was found in their water supply subscribe to the national. Flint water crisis simple english wikipedia, the free. Jul 03, 2017 his earliest writings were for flint central high school publications the tribal times and the arrow head. This book does a lot to explain the history of city planning in the area and how flint, michigan. Jan 24, 2016 t he town of flint is still reeling from the contamination of its water supply, which exposed thousands of residents to leadlaced water, put michigan gov.
On april 25, 2014 officials from flint, michigan switched the citys water supply to the flint river as a costcutting measure for the struggling city. The flint water crisis and how lead got in the water time. Anna clarks book on the flint water crisis rises to a great challenge. Facebook is showing information to help you better understand the purpose of a page. Hidden history of flint by gary flinn the history press. Still havent subscribed to the new yorker on youtube. Michigan emails show officials knew of flint water disease risk. Flint michigan residents are still fighting for clean. In flint, between 6,000 and 12,000 children have been exposed to drinking water with high levels of lead. Flint water crisis is the most egregious example of. Flints water and the american urban tragedy clark, anna on. Criminal statutes of limitations vary depending on the offense and the date of the alleged criminal act. Before flint, michigan realized its water crisis in 2014, the city was nearing bankruptcy and took a series of deliberate actions to cut costs.
May 14, 2019 this is the first article in a twopart series drawing a balance sheet of five years of the water crisis in flint, michigan. He was in that job when a deadly legionnaires disease outbreak occurred in genesee county in 2014 and 2015. Mar 06, 2017 residents of flint, michigan are pulling together but preparing for the worst, years after lead was found in their water supply subscribe to the national. Although it was once a thriving industrial centre, the city of flint in souteastern michigan. But to see flint s crisis fully, one must understand what michigan resident and journalist anna clark calls the american urban tragedythe. We urge those with authority to carefully consider and act upon these recommendations. Frontline flints deadly water season 2019 episode 12 pbs. Hidden history of flint by gary flinn the history press books. Before flint s water crisis, one man tried to sound an alarm before thousands were poisoned by flint s water crisis, one man tried to sound an alarm. Zuma wirerexshutterstock the dogged work of the community is what finally forced a reckoning over flints. The poisoned city by anna clark and what the eyes dont see by dr. Man made disaster lead poisoning of flint michigan water. Books on flint history the following books are good general histories of genesee county and flint. However, we want to correct the misconception that april 25, 2020 is the deadline to bring charges against those who may be criminally liable.