Fat studies take a critical multidisciplinary approach to address systemic biases that produce an oppressive society for fat people, especially fat Black people who make up 50% of the fat population. (CDC, 2022). Still, no existing literature offers practical means of translating these theoretical perspectives of fat studies to public policy. As a result, this study attempts to answer the following questions: to what degree has scientific knowledge on fatness and health been influenced by racial and gender biases of American political/governmental agencies? How has this dominant narrative, about fatness and health, impacted the everyday participation of fat people in the American capitalist system? How can fat studies provide an alternative lens for political and governmental institutions to engage with fat citizens? An analysis of existing literature reveals early eugenicists claimed that fat bodies, which were commonly found to be African, were inherently gluttonous and deficient in mental and physical health. In contrast, thin European bodies signaled temperance and stellar mental and physical health, justifying enslavement and inhumane treatment of Africans. Today, modern science and political/governmental public health campaigns have implicitly adopted this Eurocentric narrative of weight and health, disregarding the exploration of other narratives that do not hold fatphobic assumptions. This creates fatphobic atmospheres that fail to treat fat people equally in the U.S. capitalist economy, rendering them unable to sustain their livelihoods. The research ends in a policy proposal for the city of Austin to ban weight-based discrimination in work environments. Keywords: Fat studies, eurocentric beauty standards, capitalism, dominant narrative

There are more than 76 million students enrolled in tertiary education in the United States. Of those, more than 5 million households experience food insecurity. Food insecurity negatively affects mental and physical health, academic performance, retention rates, psychosocial development, and behavior and attention issues. Further, students who are food insecure are three times more likely to defer their higher education than students who are food secure. In an effort to better understand this urgent and timely topic, this paper explores the relationship between food insecurity and higher education by illuminating the link between food insecurity and mental health. Beyond showing how food insecure students are at a significant disadvantage this paper will ultimately offer a set of pragmatic recommendations for improving the opportunity for all students to achieve their educational potential.

Having access to clean water is an environmental, human, and civil right. Water quality and issues are often overlooked in minority communities until there is an uncontainable issue. State and local governments are not required to adhere to federal water standards. Issues surrounding water quality and treatment in low-income communities were accentuated in 2014 when the Flint Water Crisis began. For reasons including economic tradeoff, lack of environmental education, and systemic racism in government, minority communities are burdened by compound environmental issues, including water injustices. This research seeks to understand public concern about water quality and treatment, and accountability in Flint’s Water Crisis, a modern-day water injustice. I used an online survey tool to gather opinions of ninety-nine people regarding water quality and treatment and accountability in Flint’s Water Crisis. I reviewed ten conclusions from cases in NexisUni’s Flint Water Crisis collection. The cases show little progress has been made towards accountability in Flint’s Water Crisis, mirroring the public’s concern. Little research explicitly focuses on water quality and justice. Although Flint’s Crisis is relevant, America’s history of water racism is not. I will add to existing literature of environmental justice and racism, and water justice. Keywords: water justice, environmental racism

Across American Cities, there is substantial evidence of Black neighborhoods being disproportionately exposed to fast food outlets. Although there are many causes as to why there is an oversaturation of fast-food restaurants in Black neighborhoods (including redlining, areas of concentrated poverty, white flight, and inadequate transportation), the root cause of it has yet to be uncovered and studied. This literature review will investigate the answer to the question of how did comprehensive plans lead to fast food destinations in North Minneapolis? Developing an analysis of six archival documents comparing them by years and seeing how things change in North Minneapolis through the lens of fast food. Evaluating the history of urban planning through a food justice lens. A relatively new term emerged in recent years from communities' desire to grow, sell, and produce healthy foods due to economic measures and structural barriers preventing it. Asking questions about access to culturally appropriate and nutritious foods. As well as ownership of land, space, and food production.