Member-only story
The Color of Climate
Why Record Heat Waves Are Especially Dangerous When You’re Black and Poor
Extreme heat threatens us all — but some people more than others
This is The Color of Climate, a weekly column from OneZero exploring how climate change and other environmental issues uniquely impact the future of communities of color.
A historic heat wave that scorched the southwestern United States last weekend set a new high-temperature record in Los Angeles County. “No A/C” trended on Twitter because many people had no relief from the heat.
It was particularly unbearable for vulnerable populations like Los Angeles’ homeless community. The city has over 66,000 homeless residents, the majority of whom are Black or Latino, and only had six cooling centers opened throughout the city over the weekend — that’s 11,000 homeless people per cooling center at a time when crowded spaces are particularly risky. At cooling centers, usually set up in facilities like public libraries, parks, and community or senior centers, people can access shade, air conditioning, and cold water during heat waves.
Andrew Lewis, a neighborhood council member in L.A.’s North Westwood, saw the number of cooling centers open in the city and took to Twitter to call on the…
