Between 1933 and 1945, the New Deal period of the United States brought with it an extensive overhaul of the body politic. Federal powers were strengthened, governmental agencies expanded across...Show moreBetween 1933 and 1945, the New Deal period of the United States brought with it an extensive overhaul of the body politic. Federal powers were strengthened, governmental agencies expanded across rural and urban country, and most importantly, it invigorated the hearts and minds of its citizens with a certain need to care for the environment. Environmental politics became a staple of the government, with agencies such as the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the Farm Security Administration. Large-scale environmental workers projects were meant to bolster the nation’s economy during the Great Depression while conserving natural resources and providing sustainable environments. However, the benefits of the environmental and social programs of the New Deal were not enjoyed by all. African Americans received the short end of the stick, and were generally excluded from or discriminated within relief programs. The Conservation Corps segregated its worker camps and subjected many Black workers to menial tasks. The Tennessee Valley Authority often times provided no work to its employed Black workers. Farm relief did not apply to the majority of Black farmers, since they virtually owned no land following Emancipation. Within the nation’s capital, several prominent Black federal policy advisors, known as the “Black Cabinet,” attempted to incorporate Black Americans into New Deal relief. Amidst a political landscape indifferent to their plights, they enjoyed several victories, especially concerning ecological problems. The purpose of this thesis is to investigate whether the Black Cabinet were concerned with contemporary notions such as ‘environmental democracy’ and ‘environmental justice.’ Ultimately, this thesis is to find out whether the actions of the Cabinet hindered or favored processes of an environmental democracy.Show less