Fast food has become a major source of nutrition in low-income, urban neighborhoods across the United States. Although some social and cultural factors account for fast food's overwhelming popularity, targeted marketing, infiltration into schools, government subsidies, and federal food policy each play a significant role in denying inner-city people of color access to healthy food. The overabundance of fast food and lack of access to healthier foods, in turn, have increased African American and

more »

... Latino communities' vulnerability to food-related death and disease. ' Structural perpetuation of this race-and class-based health crisis constitutes "food oppression." Popular culture has raised some awareness of the deleterious effects of fast food, but media delivering this message often fails to reach the communities suffering the greatest harm. Even where efforts at education succeed, government support of the fast food industry severely limits dietary choices for low-income, urban African Americans and Latinos. To eradicate food oppression and improve health and life expectancy in these communities, activists must lobby for drastic changes in law, policy, and education. Individuals and groups have mounted attacks on food oppression through litigation, education, lobbying, and community-based organization. These efforts must continue and grow if they are to effect real and meaningful change.