From Deserts to Apartheid: Rethinking Food Injustice in Our Communities
- By Sentel Imagine walking into a grocery store where fresh produce is abundant, shelves are stocked with nutritious foods, and you have plenty of choices. Now, picture a different reality—a neighborhood where such options are scarce, and unhealthy, processed foods dominate the shelves. This stark contrast is at the heart of a debate that’s reshaping how we talk about food access in America. Is it a “food desert” or something more insidious, like “food apartheid”? This discussion isn’t just about semantics; it’s about understanding the deep-rooted systemic issues that have led to these disparities. What Exactly Is a 'Food Desert'? At first glance, the term "food desert" might seem fitting—it evokes images of barren landscapes devoid of life. According to the Food Empowerment Project, food deserts are geographic areas where access to affordable, healthy food is severely limited due to the absence of grocery stores within a reasonable distance. Sounds straightforward