The Faces That Face
Unmasking the individuals whose lives bear the burden of environmental injustices
Project Details:
“In my documentation project, titled “The Faces That Face,” West Dallas holds a special place in my
heart, serving as the backdrop to my earliest memories. From the red brick housing projects that sheltered
my family to the local burger joint and schools, it was my first home—etched vividly in my recollections.
One compelling aspect of this project involved collaborating with Janie Cisneros, a true representative of
the neighborhood’s resilience. Born and raised in West Dallas, Texas, Janie is a first-generation Latina and
the driving force behind Singleton United/Unidos—an empowering group dedicated to raising awareness
about pollution risks in the community.” -Nitashia Johnson
Singleton United/Unido’s GAF’s Gotta Go/GAF Vete Ya Campaign is united towards the goal of
defending their “basic rights to breathe clean air.” Their mission is the David versus Goliath task of
removing the GAF factory from the residential community as, prior to 2022, it was the “largest polluter of
Sulfur Dioxide and the 4th largest Particulate Matter polluter in Dallas County.”
West Dallas has a deep environmental history that began during the Industrial Revolution in the United
States. Similar to numerous major cities, Dallas underwent industrial development and expansion and
became known as the Cement City. Racial segregation served as a fundamental influence in land use
policy, impacting residential areas and neighborhood compositions.
The practice of redlining hindered Black and Brown communities from receiving equivalent investment and support from government entities and banks—unlike the privileges enjoyed by White neighborhoods. Consequently, this resulted in the concentration of poverty in Black and Brown communities, contributing to the exploitation of land for industrial use or other undesirable purposes.
West Dallas began as a community on the outskirts of Dallas and was officially incorporated into the city
in 1954, making essential services more accessible to the residents. However, in 1959, a major
development occurred with the construction of a 3,500-unit public housing complex located close to a
RSR lead smelter facility, which was raising potential environmental concerns due to inadequate control
measures during the refining, casting and processing stages. Residents complained for decades about the
negative health impacts but it was only in 1994, when the EPA signed the Preliminary Close Out Report
for the RSR Corp, that residents received some respite.
The GAF asphalt shingle manufacturer serves as a constant reminder of how the City of Dallas continues
to allow industrial polluters to operate next door to residents.
Cisneros, a longtime West Dallas resident, has personally experienced the environmental challenges posed
by industrial activities in the area.
“I only found out about the amount of pollution in this area because I agreed to have an air monitor
hooked up to my home as part of an air quality study. I saw the levels of pollution and it blew my mind
that this was what we’ve been living with. I then started thinking that if those are the current levels of
pollution, then what were they when RSR lead was also operating at the same time as GAF?,” she says.
Cisneros still resides on Bedford Street in West Dallas, a couple hundred feet to the west of GAF.
Cisneros suspects that prolonged exposure to pollution may have contributed to her mother’s health
issues, her father’s cancer, and her four year-old daughter Lila’s struggles with asthma.
“It’s not a coincidence. There is a reason why so many people are being hurt and damaged by the
pollution that is in this area. It is environmental racism and it is environmental injustice because it is
disproportionately impacting the Black and Latinx community that lives here,” says Cisneros.
Several other residents are also facing various health challenges, possibly linked to their proximity to the
GAF fenceline. Cisneros, who has lived in the area for 25 years, is grappling with pulmonary issues and
heart problems. Her home is situated just 110 yards from the GAF fenceline. Janie’s mother Rosa
Cisneros, has resided in West Dallas for 45 years and is battling rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and
pulmonary issues, including lung nodules. Rosa’s house is located 135 yards from the GAF facility.
“You talk to people around here and they’ll tell you really quickly how bad it smells and how the smell
makes their tummy hurt, their eyes watery, makes them cough and sneeze. When there’s irritants in the
air, your skin starts breaking out into a rash. We’ve lived like this and it’s not okay. Enough is enough,”
she says.
Vernon Childress, who has been a part of the West Dallas community for over 36 years, has a history of
heart problems and has undergone several operations. She also has a son with asthma. Her residence
stands 120 yards away from the GAF fenceline. Delores Burns, a long-term West Dallas resident for
nearly 30 years, is coping with asthma, diabetes, hypertension, and COPD. Delores lives 230 yards from
the GAF facility. “I don’t care about money. I don’t care about nothing. I just want to live,” says
Childress.
Pedro Suarez, who has been in West Dallas for 40 years, has had four recent emergency room visits,
indicating ongoing health issues. He experiences vertigo and stomach problems and resides just 20 yards
from the GAF fenceline.
The common thread among these residents is their proximity to the GAF facility, suggesting a potential
connection between their health conditions and environmental factors in the area. Further investigation
and monitoring may be necessary to assess and address the health concerns in this community.
Many residents work alongside Janie to raise awareness about the GAF facility and its negative health
impact on the community. In September 2021, Singleton United/Unidos was officially established and the
GAF’s Gotta Go/ GAF Vete Ya campaign was launched with the sole mission to remove GAF from their
residential community. In the summer of 2022, the nearly 80-year-old West Dallas Shingles Plant, located
so close to residential schools and living spaces, agreed to shut down after the campaign released a report,
‘The Case for Amortization’, that outlines how the City of Dallas can and should close the factory using
their land use laws. Another study by Paul Quinn College had previously identified the plant as one of the
city’s top polluters.
Singleton United/Unidos joined a housing discrimination complaint filed with the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) against the city of Dallas. Other complainants included the
Joppa Environmental Health Project, Neighbors United/Vecinos Unidos, Marsha Jackson and the
Coalition for Neighborhood Self-Determination. The HUD complaint alleges that the city’s industrial
zoning of single-family neighborhoods of color violates the Fair Housing Act, as residents lack protection
from both legal and illegal industrial polluters due to this zoning.
The GAF company has since revealed its seven-year closure timeline of 2029, which is an unreasonable
timeline and is unacceptable to the community. They refuse to be a sacrifice zone any longer and their
fight continues for environmental justice.
“What makes me happy is seeing my daughter growing up and seeing her take in the world, observing it
and trying to understand it and I love helping her with that,” says Cisneros. As mentioned in the Singleton
United/Unidos mission statement, for this West Dallas neighbourhood, worrying about their family’s
health should not be a consequence of where they live and children living in the community deserve to
grow up in a neighborhood where playing outdoors is carefree, not a health risk.
About:
Hello, my name is Nitashia Johnson. I’m a Nigerian-American, multimedia artist and educator from Dallas, Texas, who truly has a passion for creating. I attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. I later became an alum of Texas Woman’s University (BFA) and the Rhode Island School of Design (MAT). I work as a Digital Media Specialist for the university setting and as a freelance graphic designer, photographer, videographer, and creative arts educator. I love to create and use my photography and design skills to make a difference.
For the past year surrounding personal passions, I have worked hard on my non-profit, The Smart Project – a creative after-school program for teens and aspiring mentors living in North Texas. Another of my most significant artistic accomplishments is The Self Publication collection, a photographic book series created to dismantle the stereotypes placed on those in the Black community. What started as casual photographs transformed into a book series showcasing the beauty of Black natives and their stories. I am working on the project alone to shed light on community issues. I plan to film a short documentary series following five past participants as the work unfolds. I want to continue growing as an artist with outstanding leadership and thoughtful mentors.
One of my latest projects is The Beauty of South Dallas. This project captures the rapid change of a historical neighborhood due to socio-economic shifts, creating a document of South Dallas for future residents, visionaries, and developers.
My photographic work is in The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine, and The New York Times. In 2019, I became among the first women selected for the Sony Alpha Female Creator-in-Residence program. In 2021, I was the inaugural recipient of the Juanita J. Craft House Artist Residency Project and participated in the Talley Dunn Gallery Equity in the Arts Fellowship. I was also awarded the 2021 Artist Disruptor Award from The Center for Cultural Power. My short film “Joy” will appear in Photography Annual 63, the July/August 2022 issue of Communication Arts.
I am a freelance photographer and videographer for news publications, including The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, NBC, The Washington Post, and CNN.
Contact:
Social: @nitashiajohnson
Location: United States