Baptized in PCBs

In the mid-1990s, Anniston, Alabama, became a battleground for residents fighting against Monsanto over the toxic dumping of PCBs and the safe elimination of hidden chemical weaponry from the Cold War era. In her insightful exploration, Ellen Griffith Spears delves into the intertwined struggles for environmental justice, highlighting the systemic racial and class inequalities rooted in Jim Crow that influenced these contemporary movements. By focusing on key figures—from activists to ordinary residents—Spears situates their personal stories within a broader national context of environmental regulations and civil rights activism, revealing the profound implications of these battles on community health and justice.