This observational article by McClintock looked at multiple components of the food industry in Oakland, California over several decades and analyzed the corresponding factors of these elements. From reading this article, I can draw parallels between our previous article by Alison Alkon. There is a common theme in food justice and that is the pervasiveness of capital gain. Ultimately, we wouldn’t need struggles such as “food justice” without the omnipresent chokehold of capitalism. This article specifically points out the systematic effects that industrialization, population migration, and urban development have had on creating racial and class divisions leading to food deserts for specific areas of Oakland.
Within the first few paragraphs, McClintock explains the vital connections between society and the environment. He goes on to quote David Harvey as he speaks on how the “accumulation of capital works through ecosystemic processes, reshaping and distributing them as it goes—Energy flows, shifts in material balances, environmental transformations, have to be brought thoroughly within the picture.” Furthermore, he explains how experiencing hunger must be evaluated through a lens that asks what food is available. This topic is very layered and coincides with other parts of societal and economic growth within a particular region.
The article continues by evaluating several periods of growth and degrowth in Oakland. McClintock outlines early efforts of drawing wealthy merchants to the area around 1910 by building on the flatlands of Oakland. During this time and the next several decades, there was booming residential development to accommodate workers in the factories and warehouses in the area after the completion of the transcontinental railroad terminus in Oakland. In 1934 when the FHA was created, many people of color were not qualified for loans as they were for new housing projects only. And many of the residential neighborhoods that were created in this area were racially exclusive. This legally continued until 1948 and illegally thereafter.
From this, a wave of things solidified the racial and financial gaps within Oakland. White workers had easier access to affordable housing near their workplaces while people of color did not. Quoted from the text, this “simply fueled racist and exclusionary sentiments by creating a sense of bootstrap entitlement, where hard work alone was seen as the key to material success.” This is another product of systematic racism. Divisions between those who are affected are a crucial element in controlling classes of society. We can see this sentiment still be applied to the working class of America today.
As a response to the conflicts between races, the housing authority located black-only housing, most of which were in industrial areas, landfills, and adjacent railroads. This is another element that I believe we can see today. You see many lower-income homes and communities built under powerlines, near industrial areas, or further away from services. Additionally, many of these areas are labeled under Residential Security Maps as “D-fourth grade” or “hazardous”. Homes built in these areas rarely qualified for loans, making it even more difficult for those of color to secure adequate housing. All of these limitations play an important role in access to food.
Generally speaking, after a period of flow in the Oakland region, there was an ebb. During all down cycles of industry, there will be layoffs, buyouts, cuts, and closings. Houses become vacant as people move to where the work is, large manufacturing facilities are abandoned, and the local businesses there to accommodate the residents close due to revenue decline. Leaving a destitute region, a lack of economic production. This cycle continues on and on due to the contentious drive of capital. And ultimately, because of past policies and civil injustices of earlier American industry, systematic racism continues to disproportionately affect nonwhite people.
Closing out, McClintock reminds us that there are better systems. Food justice organizations have been created to connect those that are cut off from adequate food supplies. The work is not completed, it will take a lot of research and perseverance from communities to change their food systems. Ultimately, I think that it will always be up to the people to make changes to the system. If the system wanted to change, it could easily do so. The problem is that, by design, capitalism is not meant to liberate anyone. So, we must keep fighting alongside our fellow class citizens to liberate all of us, ourselves.
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