America's dirty divide: how environmental racism leaves the vulnerable behind

The health effects caused by decades of systemic racism are staggering. The Guardian is launching a year-long series to investigate

• Have you faced sanitation issues? We want to hear from you

The climate crisis has forced many people to consider what they would do if the places they call home became unlivable in their lifetimes. But in the US, certain vulnerable communities - especially Black and Indigenous populations - have been fighting for the right to clean, safe, healthy environments for generations.

Decades of systemic racism mean that in the richest country in the world, access to clean air, clean water, and proper sanitation are not a given.