Water, Waste, and Disease: Struggles of Chinese communities and environmental racism in California, 1870-1910

Liu, Danni (2023): Water, Waste, and Disease: Struggles of Chinese communities and environmental racism in California, 1870-1910. Dissertation, LMU München: Faculty for Languages and Literatures

Abstract

This study takes a fresh look at the anti-Chinese movement in California in the late 19th century through the lens of environmental humanities, with a focus on environmental justice and environmental racism. The dissertation examines the complex role that water played in the history of Chinese immigration to the United States in the latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century. This includes various forms of water, such as sewage and different methods of controlling and managing water resources. Drawing on contemporary understandings of the connections between water, pollution, and disease, this research shows how built environments contributed to environmental injustice against Chinese communities.

• Item Type: Theses (Dissertation, LMU Munich)
• Keywords: Environmental injustice, Environmental racism, Chinese American history, California sanitary reform
• Faculties: Faculty for Languages and Literatures
• Language: English
• Date of oral examination: 17. February 2023
• 1. Referee: Lübken, Uwe
• Signature of the printed copy: 0001/UMC 29729