A water crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, has reignited debates about systemic inequality and access to basic human rights in the U.S. After flooding damaged the city's main water treatment facility in August 2022, residents faced contaminated water shortages, disproportionately affecting a population where 83% identify as Black. Delaney Coats, a local resident, told reporters: \"Having clean running water should be a basic human right, which many people don't really get.\"
Decades-old infrastructure problems, compounded by underinvestment in majority-Black communities, have left Jackson vulnerable. NBC News linked the crisis to historic patterns of racial exploitation, with water systems dating back over a century. Many residents cannot afford to stockpile safe water, leading to challenges in daily necessities like bathing and cooking.
The situation highlights broader global divides: UN data shows 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. For young changemakers, Jackson's struggle underscores the urgent need for equity-focused infrastructure policies and climate resilience planning in urban communities.
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Jackson resident: Many people don't really get basic human rights
cgtn.com
