Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: anatomy of vulnerability -- Race, place, and the environment in a small southern town: a personal perspective from Robert D. Bullard -- Growing up in a city that care forgot, New Orleans: a personal perspective from Beverly Wright -- The legacy of bias: hurricanes, droughts, and floods -- Recovery and reconstruction in post-Katrina New Orleans: a time for healing and renewal -- The wrong complexion for protection: response to toxic contamination -- Nightmare on Eno Road: poisoned water and toxic racism in Dickson, Tennessee -- Living and dying on the fenceline: response to industrial accidents -- Separate and unequal treatment: response to health emergencies, human experiments, and bioterrorism threats -- Critical conditions: fixing a broken system.