Rethinking Resilience and Environmental Justice: Social Infrastructure Distribution in Non-White Communities of Washington, DC

The concept of social infrastructure and its role in building disaster resilience has garnered significant attention in recent years. Defined as physical spaces that foster social connections and vibrant communities, social infrastructure has been recognized as a crucial element in providing support and resources during disasters. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has further emphasized the importance of enhancing social infrastructure. However, divergent perspectives exist regarding the relationship between social infrastructure and socioeconomic factors in terms of distribution. Some studies suggest that the disproportionate distribution of social infrastructure may disadvantage certain racial and socioeconomic groups. Conversely, other research highlights instances where marginalized communities with robust social infrastructure exhibit resilience despite facing social and economic challenges. This discrepancy underscores the need for further investigation to reconcile these differing descriptions. Addressing this gap, this study aims to examine the relationship between social infrastructure, socioeconomic factors, and environmental justice. Specifically, the research question guiding this study is: Is the distribution of social infrastructure in a city related to specific racial or class factors from an environmental justice perspective? Utilizing the ordinary least squares regression, this study reveals that communities with a higher proportion of the non-White population have a greater number of social infrastructures, challenging expectations based on the environmental justice literature.