Photographer Wayan Barre is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From the project ‘Behind the Plants: The Americans of Cancer Alley’. To see Wayan’s body of work, click on any photograph.

In the heartland of Louisiana, between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, a 150-mile corridor along the Mississippi River tells a tale of environmental degradation, social injustice, and economic struggle.

This region, home to over 150 behemoth chemical facilities and oil refineries, is also home to a multitude of communities, predominantly low-income and marginalized. Nearly 50% of the residents are African Americans, their roots intertwined with the land for centuries, dating back to the days of slavery when they were forced to cut and process sugar cane on vast plantations that dominated the river parishes.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports a staggering 95% higher risk of cancer due to air pollution for residents in this area compared to the rest of the United States. The consequences extend beyond cancer, with prevalent cardiovascular, respiratory, reproductive, and developmental diseases haunting the lives of the people here. This tragedy has earned the corridor the morbid moniker, “Cancer Alley,” a term underscored by UN human rights experts in 2021 as a stark example of “environmental racism.”

Despite numerous complaints and irrefutable research establishing the causal link between industrial activities and health issues, permits for these facilities persist, and major incidents continue to occur. Louisiana, the third-poorest state in the U.S., is witnessing a concerning regression in air quality while the rest of the nation progresses. This phenomenon gives rise to a perplexing paradox, aptly termed the ‘Red State Paradox’ by sociologist Arlie Russell Hochschild. Despite being a leading state in generating substantial revenues from oil, natural gas, and chemical production, Louisiana finds itself among the worst in socio-economic indicators, highlighting a disconcerting disparity.

Cows in front of Denka Performance Elastomer facility

This documentary goes beyond the statistics to unveil the personal stories of individuals and families living in the shadow of industrial giants. I explore the stark contrast between the industrial landscape and the daily lives of those who call this corridor home.

Wayan Barre

Born in 1989, Wayan is a French photographer, based in New Orleans, Louisiana.

He is a member of The Raw Society, and a stringer for AFP.

Particularly sensitive to social and environmental issues, he has worked on various projects, documenting communities, often marginalized and left over. Freelance photographer, his work has been published in France and the US.

He also provides commercial and corporate work to various clients and brands.

Prizes & grants:

2024 - IPA's "Official Selection" for The Silence of the Blackbirds

Publications:

AFP, Bloomberg, Geographical, Fisheye, Country Roads, Progressive, Socialter, The Raw Society, ArMen