What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City

Dr. Mona is not shy about labeling herself as an activist and environmentalist, and part of her stated goal in writing this book is to encourage people to build a better country where “democracy and equality and opportunity are once again encouraged and advanced” (15) and “where we nurture one another and create stable and safe environments for all children growing up” (15). Rather than focusing on all of the injustices in the US, many of which have complex historical roots, Dr. Mona focuses primarily on environmental injustices.

Over the course of What the Eyes Don’t See, Dr. Mona provides numerous examples of environmental contaminates that disproportionately affect the health and well-being of low-income and Black communities. Her first major environmental advocacy project is one example. While in high school, the county was considering reopening the Madison Heights incinerator despite an elementary school being located next to it. The Madison Heights community was one of the poorer communities in Mona’s county. There was already evidence that the incinerator had negatively impacted the neighboring community. Community members experienced higher rates of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Despite this evidence, officials were still willing to consider reopening the incinerator, which showed a clear disregard for the health of the community, including school children.